Supporting Students through Philanthropy

Cal State East Bay recently celebrated its third highest fundraising year to date, with more than $7 million raised from nearly 4,000 gifts.

“Cal State East Bay’s alumni and friends, whether they are individuals, corporations, or foundations, are committed to ensuring our students have access to outstanding faculty, as well as opportunities for hands-on research and learning experiences,” said University Advancement Vice President Bill Johnson. “This year we also received the highest number of estate commitments to the university, and we are honored these individuals have chosen to leave a legacy with our institution.” 

This year included $1.8 million in private support for a new initiative, the Green Biome Institute, which will provide a dedicated environment and biological materials needed to facilitate leading-edge research in plant sciences. The institute positions Cal State East Bay as a leader in student-guided and faculty-mentored conservation projects, including the genomic profiling of endangered plants from California, and, eventually, the world. 

The university’s CORE building, announced in April 2019, also received significant support, as did scholarships and other student-centered programming. Part 21st century library, part innovation lab, CORE will be a destination for “high impact” learning that connects students with peers, faculty, and industry leaders in a dynamic environment. Whether it is student-led tutoring or collaborative problem solving, students will use the new space to blend their academic knowledge with their soft skills, preparing them to be leaders who are more socially aware, better communicators, and superior time managers. 

Alumnus Jack Acosta provided essential support for CORE, noting, “Our family's continued giving is a vote of confidence in the students, faculty, and university. My time at Cal State East Bay was transformative for me as a person and a businessperson, and I am pleased that we can help provide the resources and experiences for today’s—and tomorrow’s—students.”

“Many of our students arrive at Cal State East Bay having overcome significant obstacles, proving themselves to be resilient, driven, and smart,” said University President Leroy M. Morishita. “We can enhance those skills by ensuring they become successful and competitive as the next generation’s workforce. The CORE is our opportunity to design around and for our students’ education, our community impact, and the needs of our regional employers.”