Campaign History

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Founded in 1965, the University of California, Irvine combines the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. With a commitment to cutting-edge research, teaching, learning and creativity, we are a driving force for discovery, benefiting our local, national and global communities in many ways.

The Shaping the Future comprehensive fundraising campaign began at UC Irvine during the 2005-2006 school year. As one of the initiatives of Chancellor Michael V. Drake's first year of leadership at UC Irvine, donors contributed more than $100 million in private financing. Community leaders became involved in guiding the campaign and worked with people in the region to set the stage for the public announcement of the campaign.

The campaign was publicly launched in the fall of 2008 at UCI's annual gala honoring recipients of the UC Irvine Medal - the school's highest honor awarded to individuals for making extraordinary contributions to the university's mission of teaching, research and public service.

The leaders of the campaign committee announced that individuals, foundations and corporations had already given $400 million as foundational gifts to the campaign.

By uniting UCI's local and global communities, alumni and longtime supporters alike, the Shaping the Future campaign is dedicated to realizing the university's mission, making a difference in individual lives and, in turn, transforming the world.