The UCLA Anderson School of Management received a $25 million donation Monday from its0 namesake to help supplement declining state funds for higher education.
John and Marion Anderson’s donation will go toward increasing student financial aid as well as resources that are available to faculty, said Judy Olian, dean of Anderson School.
The school has yet to decide specific allocations for the funds, Olian said.
“The Andersons were very roused because now more than ever support for public education is vital, and they may inspire more donors,” Olian said.
The school of management was renamed for the Anderson family after their first large donation of $15 million in 1987.
This donation brings the total amount of money donated by the Andersons to $42 million, according to a statement by the school.
The support of the Anderson family has been integral to the development of the school in recent years and has extended beyond their monetary donations, Olian said.
Up until last year, John Anderson would walk around the Anderson campus to meet and socialize with students, Olian said, and his family has been a constant presence at UCLA as Marion Anderson and their daughter both continue to serve on boards.
The family’s dedication to UCLA began with John Anderson’s time as a student in the 1940s, Olian said.
“I was very lucky to come to UCLA on a scholarship, and I’ve never forgotten that. … Giving back to the school is my way of enabling future generations to have the kind of opportunities that UCLA offered me,” John Anderson said in a statement.
As funds for higher education continue to diminish and student tuition increases, gifts such as the Andersons’ are vital for students to flourish, Olian said.
Students and members of Anderson received the news on Monday and were still processing the information early Monday afternoon.
“I thought it was fantastic,” said Anderson graduate student Nisha Patel. “I think it’s a testament to the alumni we have.”