Irvine Foundation Supports Teacher Training and College Prep
The James Irvine Foundation provided two grants to California State University, Long Beach for a combined $800,000 to support teacher training and college preparation.
A $650,000 grant will support the CSU Long Beach College of Education’s
Linked Learning clinical teacher training program, while a $150,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation will fund a complementary program,
Bridging the Gap, which is designed to create more seamless transitions from high school to college.
Recognizing Leadership, Sustaining A Vision
A recent $1.1 million contribution from several donors will establish a permanent endowment to develop a center at California State University, Fresno into a national model for policy, leadership training and professional development. The donation –made in honor of former Fresno State President John D. Welty – will support the newly-named
John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership.
Dr. Welty was the seventh president in Fresno State’s 103-year history and a champion for educational and economic growth in the Central Valley through higher education. Under his leadership, Fresno State doubled its graduation rate and tripled the number of Hispanic students who earn a college diploma.
The John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership, formerly the Central Valley Educational Leadership Institute, remains a point of pride and passion for Dr. Welty. The establishment of the John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership will sustain Dr. Welty’s passion for improving the educational and economic condition of the region.
Countering Hate through Education
The recent tragedy at a gay nightclub in Orlando inspired a local philanthropist to pledge $200,000 to the
Pride Center and the
LGBT studies program at San Diego State University.
David Gubser, who moved to San Diego from Glendale with his partner two years ago, said that he “couldn’t think of a better way to accomplish the goal” of educating more people about the LGBT community than by contributing to SDSU’s efforts on campus and in the community.
Gubser has committed to two $100,000 gifts through his will to the SDSU Pride Center and an endowed scholarship in the LGBT studies program, respectively.
High-Speed Rail, High-Impact Giving
California’s Central Valley is the epicenter of the state’s new high-speed rail—both in the future rail route, which will connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, and in the education of engineers, operators and other careers in the STEM fields.
To help meet the needs of California’s future transportation needs, CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Company gave over $400,000 to California State University, Bakersfield to support high-speed rail education in the
School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering.
East Bay Community Partners Give Promise to Hayward Students
Telecommunications company AT&T continued its support of the California State University, East Bay community through a new $500,000 pledge to support the
Hayward Promise Neighborhood Aspire High School Achievement Program, which supports academic success, retention and career readiness for K-12 students through mentorship and tutoring.