Foundation News

Announcements about major gifts to the University are distributed to local media, UA News and other outlets.

Helios Education Foundation Supports UA 'Algebra Ready' Project

"Algebra Ready: Transitioning to Academic Success" aims to increase young students' abilities in math by better training teachers. The project is primarily supported by a $560,000 award from Helios Education Foundation. Read more.

A Pathway for Solving Problems

UA alumnus Paul Lindsey provides financial support so UA College of Education students can take part in internships. Read more.

UA Foundation Recognizes Robert F. Lusch for Fundraising

Dr. Robert F. Lusch of the Eller College received this year's Eugene G. Sander Endowed Faculty Fundraising Award for his extraordinary leadership in development. Read more.

Cancer research gets boost from Community Foundation for Southern Arizona grants

With support from a $100,000 gift from the Sidney Hopkins & Mayola V. Vail Family Fund Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, researchers will study if cancer patients' tumors can be tracked to determine the best therapy before treatment begins, and to quickly determine if the prescribed treatment is effective. Read more.

The University of Arizona Foundation Introduces "Ten by Ten"

The University of Arizona Foundation is pleased to announce the premier of an annual editorial feature recognizing young alumni who graduated from the University of Arizona 10 years ago, and who have already emerged as philanthropists supporting their alma mater. Read more.

President Robert N. Shelton Leaving UA to Head Fiesta Bowl

Shelton will assume the leadership role of the Phoenix-based charity effective Aug. 1. In his five years at the UA, Shelton has guided the University to achievement of sound financial management coupled with extraordinary academic success. Read more.

Anonymous Philanthropists Give $2.5 Million to Arizona Athletics

A loyal University of Arizona philanthropist couple, who until now has supported academic initiatives, has pledged $2.5 million toward the Arizona Athletics' North End-Zone Complex, raising the total committed support to nearly $30 million of the $72.3 million project. Read more.

UA to Graduate its First Arizona Assurance Scholar

Jeremiah Walpert will be the first in what is hoped to be a steady stream of Arizona Assurance students to graduate from the University of Arizona. Read more.

Eugene G. Sander and Louise Canfield Sander Establish Endowment to Benefit UA Graduate Students

Eugene G. Sander, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), is retiring on July 1, but his mark on the University of Arizona will be enduring. He and his wife Louise Canfield Sander have created the Sander/Canfield Graduate Student Support Endowment.Read more.

UA Foundation Increases Endowment Funds Under Management to $500 Million

The University of Arizona Foundation has assumed management and stewardship of the University of Arizona endowment, increasing the consolidated endowment pool under the Foundation’s supervision to more than a half-billion dollars. Read more.

Legendary Basketball Coach Lute Olson to Join University of Arizona Foundation as Special Consultant

The University of Arizona Foundation is pleased to announce legendary men's basketball coach Lute Olson will be joining the Foundation's professional staff as an ambassador and special consultant, with an emphasis on raising awareness of and building support for the Arizona Cancer Center (AZCC).Read more.

UA Foundation Recognizes Gordon A. Ewy, MD, for Fundraising

The University of Arizona Foundation Board of Trustees has announced that Gordon A. Ewy, MD, director of the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, is the 2010 Eugene G. Sander Endowed Faculty Fundraising Award recipient. Read more.

Brian Kish Appointed as Senior Vice President for Central Development

The University of Arizona Foundation has hired Brian Kish to serve as Senior Vice President for Central Development. Read more.

First Recipients of 1885 Society Fellowships and UA Excellence Graduate Fellowships Announced

The UA Graduate College has announced the first recipients of two graduate fellowship programs: the 1885 Society Graduate Fellowships in Fine Arts and Humanities, and the UA Excellence Graduate Fellowships in the Social Sciences. Read more.

UA Eller College of Management Receives $4.5M in Faculty Funding

Gifts from alumni and friends are creating endowed chairs in three departments. Read more.

Helios Education Foundation $750,000 Grant

The Jr. BIOTECH program connects middle school science teachers with the resources and training necessary to lead hands-on, inquiry-based science activities in the classroom. Read more.

John W. Olsen Receives Faculty Fundraising Award

The University of Arizona Foundation has honored John W. Olsen with the second annual Eugene G. Sander Endowed Faculty Fundraising Award. Read more.

Shaun Sommerer Hired as Vice President for Arizona Health Sciences Development

Sommerer previously served as the Associate Vice President of Development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where his responsibilities included oversight of the UNLV Division of Health Sciences Development. Read more.

Udall Center Receives W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant To Study Native American Health Care

The Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy (NNI), part of The University of Arizona’s Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, is studying tribal health care strategies, looking for health care solutions that can be replicated by other American Indian nations. Read more.

Ford Foundation Awards $200,000 Grant to UA Research on Gender and Sexuality Norms in Schools

The Ford Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to The University of Arizona’s Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families to support research on school safety as associated with adolescents’ experiences of gender, sexuality and conformity. Read more.

UA in the News

Bolton Guitar Studies Program Trains Next Generation of Guitarists

For students of classical guitar, Tucson is the place to be, thanks in part to private philanthropy. Young would-be guitarists come to southern Arizona to attend the UA's Bolton Guitar Studies Program from as far as Brazil, France and the Philippines. Watch the video.

Biosphere 2 to Have a Permanent Home With the UA

Beginning July 1, 2011, the Biosphere 2 facility in Oracle, Ariz. will become official property of the University of Arizona. The acquisition of this one-of-a-kind research facility was made possible through two generous gifts. Read more.

UA Scholarship Honors Fallen Soldier

Susie Tipton was using the Internet to look up information about her late husband's military unit when she came upon a site about a UA scholarship created in his memory. Tipton said the scholarship is an honorable memorial. Read more.

$3.5M Estate Gift Supports UA Creative Photography Center

The Center for Creative Photography, or CCP, at the University of Arizona received a $3.5 million estate gift from the late Arthur J. Bell, a former photographer and professor at Columbia College in Chicago. Read more.

Arizona Cancer Center Receives $2M Gift for Faculty Hiring

A $2 million gift from the Del E. Webb Foundation of Prescott will support recruiting and hiring faculty and staff members for the Arizona Cancer Center at Phoenix. Read more.

Student Group Raising Thousands for Brain Tumor Research

With more than $24,000 already raised, members of Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research are co-hosting a March 5, 2011, fashion show to raise even more. Read more.

Small Business Gives Large Donation to University of Arizona Financial Aid Program

GLHN Architects & Engineers presented a check for $30,000 to University of Arizona President Robert Shelton on Dec. 21, 2010, for the Arizona Assurance Financial Aid program. Read more.

UA Names Alumnus Leonard M. Jessup Dean of the Eller College of Management

Jessup will begin his tenure as dean in May. He is chair of the department of entrepreneurship and information systems and director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington State University. Read more.

Gates Foundation grant will help improve immunity of African staple crop

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a $1.3 million grant to researchers at the University of Arizona to lead an international team in developing a genome variation database... Read more.

University of Arizona researchers seek safer cystic fibrosis test

Researchers from The University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine are teaming up to try to invent a novel non-invasive lung test for cystic fibrosis sufferers. Read more.

A Scientist of Flight Wins an Honor Intended to Keep Him in Place

As a boy, Hermann F. Fasel used to spend hours on the weekends gazing out his window, watching gliders soar through the skies near his hometown, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. Read more.

Major Gift to Create Endowed Chair in Animal Sciences

A $1.25 million estate gift in the names of Roy R. and Phyllis Hislop and also William J. and Rosina Ede. It has resulted in the creation of an endowed chair position in animal sciences at the UA. Read more.