Private gifts to the University of California, Davis, reached a record high of $41.5 million in fiscal year 1994-95, a 39 percent increase over the previous year, according to annual figures released today by Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. Last year, the campus raised $29.8 million in private funds. The UC Davis Foundation, which spearheads the campus fund-raising efforts, also had its best year ever, bringing in $10.6 million of the total. "The amount of money contributed to the foundation this year represents a benchmark for our volunteer-driven organization," said foundation chair Kenneth E. Nitzberg. With an increase of 65 percent over the previous year, gifts from individuals totaled $10,030,714. Corporations were the source of 43 percent ($17,773,526) of gifts; an increase of 34 percent from last year. Fully 39 percent of all funds ($16.1 million) was raised primarily by faculty for research purposes. "We're thankful to our many supporters for their generosity and continuing contributions, which have made this such a remarkable fund-raising year," said Vanderhoef. Largest Gifts The largest gift received by the campus was a $5 million pledge from Lawrence J. Ellison, CEO of Oracle Inc., to create three endowed chairs and a musculoskeletal institute in the School of Medicine. "I believe the record-setting philanthropic support we've realized this past year is proof of the public's recognition and appreciation of our efforts," said UC Davis School of Medicine Dean Gerald S. Lazarus. "Mr. Ellison's generosity in particular will help sustain our nationally recognized expertise and care for patients with bone or muscle diseases." With a total of $12.7 million, an 88 percent increase over last year, the School of Medicine received the largest amount in private support by an academic unit in the history of the campus. The campus was the recipient of four other gifts of $1 million or more: • $1.6 million from the Lucille Markey Trust to the School of Veterinary Medicine and School of Medicine; • $1 million from the Walnut Marketing Board to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and • $2 million from the Howard Hughes Research Institute and $1.02 million from the James S. McDonnell Foundation to the Division of Biological Sciences. Schools and Colleges The fairly young Division of Biological Sciences boasted the largest increase in private funds by an academic unit, 322 percent. "The division's success in obtaining major support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the James McDonnell Foundation provides a great start for our new fund-raising program," said Division of Biological Sciences Dean Mark McNamee, who notes that a recently hired development director will help create a strong major gifts program for the division. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences received $9.4 million in private support, including a $250,000 gift from the Gallo Foundation to build a conference room in the Harry E. Jacob Viticulture Research Center in Oakville. A campaign to raise $325,000 for the Raveling Endowed Chair in waterfowl studies was successfully completed, surpassing its goal by $27,850. "Our fund-raising success this year stems from creating partnerships with those who recognize the significant contributions our college makes to California's economy and quality of life," said Barbara Schneeman, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "Support for our programs will enable our faculty to maintain high-quality research in agricultural and environmental sciences that is important to all Californians." Student Support In an effort to help students and their families with the rising costs of higher education, UC Davis launched a $15.35 million fund-raising campaign in October of 1993 to raise money specifically for scholarships, fellowships, grants and other forms of financial assistance. The STUDENTS FIRST campaign raised more than $3.8 million in 1994-95. "The entire campus community has been generous in their support of the campaign, which has raised nearly $11 million to date from alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends," said Nitzberg, who is also co-chair of the STUDENTS FIRST campaign. "We expect that this new spirit of philanthropy will continue to expand as we help to meet other priority needs of the campus in the future." About the significance of private support to UC Davis, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Chief Development Officer Virginia Kelsch said, "The importance of these gifts cannot be underestimated. The endowed chairs, student scholarships, research funds and academic programs supported by philanthropy are critical to advancing the mission of the campus and maintaining excellence." Total donations to the nine-campus University of California system broke the half-billion-dollar mark for the first time ever. Private gifts to UC, including systemwide and multicampus programs, totaled $532.9 million, eclipsing the 1993-94 mark by $73.7 million.