September 19, 2008
School of Public Health Launches Ambitious Fundraising Endeavor as Part of Campuswide “Campaign for Berkeley”
On September 19, UC Berkeley publicly launched The Campaign for Berkeley, a fundraising effort to raise $3 billion dollars for the Berkeley campus by the end of June 2013. Nearly $1.3 billion has already been raised in the quiet phase of the campaign, which began on July 1, 2005. The campaign will support the Chancellor's overall goals for the campus, as well as those of the separate colleges and schools.
As part of the overall campuswide effort, The Campaign for the School of Public Health has a private philanthropic fundraising goal of $110 million. Sixty million is targeted to help construct a new building to house the School, as the centerpiece of a new community health campus located at the northwest corner of the Berkeley campus. The remaining $50 million will be used for faculty and student support and new programmatic initiatives.
The fundraising effort comes at a time when the need for superior public health education, research, and action has never been more urgent. There is an estimated national shortage of 250,000 public health professionals, and the demand for trained graduates is growing. It is predicted that 50 percent of California's governmental public health workers will retire within the next five years.
“While the need is growing, the state is no longer in a position to provide the support they have in the past. Currently state support provides only 15 percent of our operating budget,” said Dean Stephen Shortell. “Private philanthropy is essential for us to address the health challenges of the 21st century. We must expand students enrollment, continue to attract and retain leading faculty, and develop new ideas for improving the health of all.”
With the recent $15 million gift from the Fred H. Bixby Foundation, the School has already raised $45 million, or 41 percent of the goal during the “quiet” phase of the campaign. The campaign offers giving opportunities for donors at all levels, including providing support for student fellowships, funding endowed chairs for faculty, and contributing to the annual fund.
“Alumni participation in giving to the School has never been more important,” said campaign director Donna Howard. “As we seek funds from the community at large—individuals, foundations, and corporations—being able to show that our alumni support the campaign will have an enormous positive impact.”
The Campaign for Berkeley's theme, “Thanks to Berkeley,” was prominently featured in the September 18 ceremony at Dwinelle Plaza, where Chancellor Robert Birgeneau unveiled a 72-foot art installation featuring portraits of hundreds of Berkeley students, faculty, and staff. More than 100 of the pictures contain a message of thanks written about the campus by the person who was photographed. To view the photos and learn more about The Campaign for Berkeley, visit campaign.berkeley.edu.
The Campaign for the School of Public Health, with the theme of “Healthier Lives in a Safer World,” will also be publicly celebrated at the Public Health Heroes Awards Ceremony and Campaign Gala on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
