Anonymous Donor Gives $2.83 Million to UC Irvine

A retired Orange County man has given $2.83 million to UC Irvine’s Global Peace and Conflict Studies program, the third-largest private donation in the school’s history.

The 80-year-old donor, who attends public lectures offered by the peace and conflict program, requested anonymity, Terry Jones, vice chancellor for university advancement, said Friday.

The gift, which will arrive in monthly payments for the next 30 years, is from land the man sold, Jones said.

“The checks are already arriving,” he said.

Most anonymous gifts are made because donors are afraid of being inundated with further requests for money, Jones said. But in this case, the donor just doesn’t want a fuss made over the gift, Jones said.

“He said he’s just not interested in having his name released,” Jones said. “He’s a pure philanthropist.”

Proceeds will support education, public service and research for the 6-year-old peace and conflict program, which is designed to introduce students to the nature of international conflict. About 60 students take courses offered by the interdisciplinary program.

The donor specified that the money be spent on the program, “but he has given quite a bit of latitude to the faculty who run the program,” Jones said.

Before the university can accept the gift, it will require approval by the UC Board of Regents, the governing body for the nine-campus system. It is expected to grant routine approval at its November meeting.

The gift comes at a good time for UCI because an uncertain economic future could reduce private donations to the campus. Gifts make up 5% of the university’s operating budget.

“We’re watching the economic situation carefully because a lot of our business leaders are saying, ‘We’re not sure what’s happening out there,’ ” Jones said.

But with this $2.83 million and an additional $1.5 million received this year in smaller gifts, the university’s fund-raising program is off to a good year, he said. Total gifts to the university dropped in last fiscal year ending in June--from $32.8 million in 1988-89 to $27.4 million in 1989-90. However, the 1988-89 gifts include an $8.5-million trust donated to the medical school, he said.

Edra E. Brophy of Palm Desert donated the personal trust to the campus for medical research and teaching programs, the largest gift ever to the campus.

“That was such an anomaly, it was almost impossible to duplicate,” Jones said.

On the other hand, total gifts--money immediately available to the university--have continued to increase each year, Jones said.

The university received $25 million in cash and equipment 1989-90, up from $20 million in 1988-89 and $17 million in 1987-88, he said.