Planned Giving Donor Stories
Planned giving reflects a deep commitment to UC Santa Barbara’s future. Each gift carries a story of generosity and purpose. In these features, we honor individuals whose legacy choices are making a meaningful difference in students’ lives and helping the university thrive in perpetuity.
Feeling inspired? You can explore planned giving strategies below.
How to Nourish a Community
The late entrepreneur James Jimenez was a key player in the Mexican food industry and a lifelong advocate for education. He created the James Jimenez Scholars Endowment to provide financial support to undergraduate students from underserved schools, with a preference for those from his local Fillmore High School.
The Global Campus
Ernie and Leslie Zomalt’s transformative international experiences at UC Santa Barbara inspired their lifelong dedication to global education. They established and endowed the Ernest and Leslie Zomalt International Education Fund to support students in UCSB's Education Abroad Program. Through their legacy gifts, the Zomalts ensure lasting support for future generations of international learners.
An Intellectual Home
Jennifer Ho ’92 found her future in UC Santa Barbara's Asian American studies classes. She is now the director of the Center for the Humanities & the Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she teaches classes on Asian American culture and Critical Race Theory. Jennifer hopes her bequest to the UCSB Department of Asian American Studies will provide stability and flexibility for the department.
"Chomaha!"
John Davis (JD) ’82,’84 passionately supports UC Santa Barbara Baseball as a trustee and long-time advocate. He launched the Chomaha Fund in 2021 to strengthen community support and designated a bequest to ensure the program's future. His efforts have expanded the team’s donor base, improved facilities, and helped UCSB Baseball achieve success, including multiple Big West Championships and NCAA appearances. JD’s legacy gift and mentorship continue to impact players.
Because we feel such a passion for education and we see the greatness that UC Santa Barbara achieves, we decided to create a legacy commitment with the hope that we can have a multigenerational impact beyond our annual giving.
Carla Van Hoven Riley ’96, UCSB Legacy Circle member