Our Stories
Philanthropy is a process of discovery. Supporters and scholars learn and grow together. These stories illustrate the meaningful relationships that enrich our campus community and beyond.
Discover what inspires our community of supporters.
Stroke by Stroke
At UC Santa Barbara, achievements in and out of the classroom depend on the collaborative efforts of a much larger team of supporters. UCSB Rowing has been kept afloat by the commitment and care of community members and alumni since its founding in 1965.
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A Classroom Homecoming
The James S. Bower Foundation believes that the future of democracy and diversity is built in the classroom, and that the most obvious place to start building is wherever you call home.
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A Bridge to the Community
Myron Gretler dedicated his life to the betterment of his local Santa Barbara community. Today, the Gretler Foundation carries his legacy of community support by investing in UCSB athletics and the Department of Economics, both of which create meaningful bridges to connect with and uplift those in our region.
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A University of California Family
Excellence is a family affair for the Crowes. After Steve and Linda Crowe watched their son be transformed by the invaluable training and guidance of his faculty mentor, they were inspired to create The Crowe Family Scholarship to extend the same research opportunities to future undergraduates in life sciences.
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An Audacious Adventurer
Margaret Becker Morez has led a colorful life of service, creativity, and community enrichment. Now, she has dedicated her legacy gift to UC Santa Barbara’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services to continue carrying her spirit of her vibrant life by ensuring a vibrant future for local families.
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For the Common Good
Realistic solutions for real world problems. That is the intention of the Pahl Initiative, founded by Louise '77 and Stephen D. '77 Pahl, which funds an annual research project seeking to address the most pressing issues of our time and ultimately result in the kind of knowledge and strategies that lead to tangible change in public policy.
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It's A Match
The future for UC Santa Barbara’s Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves (VESR) looks bright as a new grant from the Tambour Foundation expands their horizons. Known to be a hub for research, education, and restoration, this gift is set to enhance VESR’s academic offerings, advance the investigations being conducted in the region, and ensure the longevity of the local communities.
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Turning the Tides
In order to overcome the rampant effects of climate change and turn things around for our oceans, we’re going to need all hands on deck. With her lifelong love of oceanic adventure, Sarah Argyropoulos has invested in providing graduate student fellowships for women at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
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Engaging Humanities
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s dedication to the field of humanities has long been opening doors of opportunity for students and faculty alike. By establishing the Engaging Humanities Initiative, the Mellon Foundation’s latest contribution enables incoming students to participate in cutting-edge discovery courses where they will gain critical skills and insight, and receive guided mentorship to help them build rewarding careers.
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The Gift of Experience
John Arnhold ’75 spent only two years as a student at UC Santa Barbara — a relatively brief tenure that nonetheless made quite an impression. Together, the alumnus and his wife, Jody, have been impacting the university in return for more than a decade.
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A Home on Campus
Will and Jennifer Cooper are committed to making sure Gauchos have a healthy place to live, work and thrive through their support of affordable campus housing, sustainability efforts and scholarships for low-income, underrepresented students.
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The Italian Renaissance in Santa Barbara
As one of the first art history professors at UC Santa Barbara, Alfred Moir is credited with significantly growing the department through his legacy of teaching, leadership, and visionary museum curation. Upon his passing, the Moir estate provided several transformative gifts to the university, including the establishment of the Alfred Moir Fellowship in Art History, a donation of over 2,000 original artworks from his personal collection, and 6,000 art and art history books to enrich the library’s Special Research Collections.
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Leaving Legacies and Living Legends
Naturally driven and inquisitive, Scott Dinsmore found the Technology Management Program (TMP) to be the perfect setting to nurture his passion for entrepreneurship that would eventually lead him to launch his own global company. Upon his sudden and unexpected passing, his parents Bill ’68 and Janet Dinsmore dedicated their legacy gift to TMP to honor Scott’s memory and legacy, and the program that helped their son find his purpose.
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An Evolving and Rewarding Partnership
For Professor Emeritus Duncan ‘09 and his wife Suzanne ‘70 Mellichamp, finding new ways to give back to their community is what keeps them going. Long-standing donors and campus partners, the Mellichamps’ unwavering generosity continues to advance programming, establish new research initiatives, and ensure the success and longevity of our community.
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High Risk, High Reward
Thomas Harriman H'17 knows that high rewards demand high risks. The philanthropist and UCSB Foundation trustee is backing UCSB’s Brain Initiative, which aims to catalyze discovery and innovation in neuroscience by fostering collaborative brain research.
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A Family Affair
Linda La Kretz Duttenhaver ’77 and her father, Morton La Kretz, have established The La Kretz Research Center. This will further the Reserve’s stature as an invaluable site for ecological inquiry and education. The gift also creates an endowment for directorship of the center and supports fellowships for promising graduate students.
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