Rady School Launches “Fellowships for the Future” Initiative with $2.5 Million Challenge Gift from Pauline Foster

Foster Encourages Others to Give to New Student Support Initiative, Part of UC San Diego’s Invent the Future Campaign

February 9, 2010

By Keri Peckham

The Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego today announced a $2.5 million charitable gift from local philanthropist and business owner Pauline Foster to endow MBA student fellowships. The gift to provide fellowships (graduate level scholarships) to MBA students is part of “Invent the Future: The UC San Diego Student Support Campaign.”

Foster’s gift kicks off the Rady School’s “Fellowships for the Future” initiative, a challenge program intended to encourage others to provide funding for student fellowships. Fellowships are a top fundraising priority for the school as they provide support to MBAs who would otherwise not be able to attend the Rady School due to financial circumstances.

“In these uncertain economic times, fellowship funding is more important than ever,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “The Rady School is thankful to Pauline for her commitment to supporting students, and we are confident that her investment in our students will have a positive impact on the San Diego business community.”

Pauline Foster is a longtime supporter of the Rady School. Her $2.5 million gift will serve as a challenge gift for the school’s ongoing student support fundraising efforts. Foster has donated to the Rady School in the past, including the establishment of the $5 million Stanley and Pauline Foster Endowed Chair to support the dean’s initiatives and the creation of the Stanley Foster Symposium.

“We are trying to transform the economy, yet people are not focused enough on education,” said Pauline Foster. “Providing access to educational opportunities is the most important gift you can give, which is why I chose to support Rady MBA fellowships. The gift of education is one you can’t take away.”

In addition to Foster’s recent gift, more than $200,000 in scholarship funding was raised from nearly 300 guests at the Rady Pinnacle Awards and Alumni Gala last year. One of the main contributors was gala chair Jan Tuttleman, a Rady School alumna. Her gift will help fund student scholarships and a lectureship. Tuttleman is a graduate of the Rady School’s FlexMBA program.
“Invent the Future: The UC San Diego Student Support Campaign” is a three-year, $50 million fundraising effort launched by the campus in September 2009. Private support generated by the university-wide campaign will help UC San Diego stay competitive in attracting outstanding graduate and undergraduate students to campus.

Pauline Foster, president of Foster Investments, currently serves as chair of the UC San Diego Foundation and as a director of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the La Jolla Playhouse. Ms. Foster attended Reed College.

The Rady School of Management at UC San Diego educates global leaders for innovation-driven organizations. A professional school within one of the top-ranked institutions in the U.S. for higher education and research, the Rady School offers a Full-Time MBA program, a FlexMBA program for working professionals, a Ph.D. Program, and undergraduate and executive education courses.

UC San Diego needs help now to raise $50 million for graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships.  For more information about Invent the Future: The UC San Diego Student Support Initiative, please visit the Web site at www.InventTheFuture.ucsd.edu or call (858) 534-1610.

Media Contact: Keri Peckham, (858) 534-0855 or kpeckham@ucsd.edu