Photography Credits:Kelley Cox · Paul Española · Katherine Fiordalis

Aaron Mendelson · Peg Skorpinski

Jefferson C.M. Coombs ’89 welcomes Chancellor Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau to Charter Gala, honoring the 2013 Alumni Award recipients and celebrating the 141st anniversary of CAA.

CAA Board Member Betty Yee ’79 greets Equity Scholars Tajai Jaxon Britten ’13 and Nayely Chavez ’13 at Charter Gala 2013.

President of the Cal Alumni Association Karen Leong Clancy ’76 and Executive Director Jefferson C.M. Coombs ’89 congratulate Alumnus of the Year Frank Davis, Ph.D., ‘55 at Charter Gala 2013.

Charter

Excitement and energy filled the air as hundreds of guests gathered at the Palace Hotel for Charter Gala 2013. Alumni and friends commemorated the founding of the University of California and honored Alumni Award recipients.

For the third year in a row Chevron Corporation was the California Sponsor for CAA’s signature event. CAA’s community engagement with Chevron contributed to a spectacular celebration and was an integral part of Charter Gala’s success.

In addition, Chevron directly supports Cal students through donations to The Achievement Award Program and The Equity Scholarship.

“We invest in education because we recognize the crucial role education plays in building healthy communities,” shared Shariq Yosufzai, Vice President, Global Offices of Diversity and Ombuds, during his remarks at Charter Gala. “We look toward our world-class institutions of higher-learning to continue innovating energy both in the state and throughout the world,” Yosufzai added.

Chevron Corporation’s commitment to the alumni

association helps advance the important work we do on behalf of alumni, students, and the University. We thank and applaud Chevron for its partnership with CAA.

All proceeds from this event support The Cal Alumni Association Fund, which enables us to ser ve our alma mater and our alumni community.

Chevron Corporation Returns as California Sponsor

The vision, groundbreaking research, imaginative thinking, talents, and service of our UC Berkeley alumni have changed the world and our University. They are inspiring leaders who contribute to the vitality of our communities, businesses and culture. They are leading volunteers and supporters of the University, making a difference in every corner of our campus. Please share the accomplishments of our incredible alumni with us by submitting a nomination for one of our 2014 Alumni Achievement or Alumni Service Awards. For more information, please visit alumni.berkeley.edu/awards.

Nominations for 2014 Alumni Awards

Former and current recipients of The Achievement Award Program scholarship had an opportunity to meet Shariq Yosufzai, Chevron Corporation, and Richard Beahrs ’68 during Charter Gala 2013.

Charter Gala 2013 Sponsors

Gerson P. ’48 and Barbara B. Baker

Ambassador Frank E. Baxter ’61

Robert D. ’64 and Colleen Haas

David ’76 and Suzanne Warner ’78, Connie Nielsen, and

Redhorse Constructors

CALIFORNIA SPONSOR

Campanile Sponsor

Sather Gate Sponsors

GIVING NOTES PHILANTHROPY NEWSLETTER · SPRING 2013

2013Gala1 Alumni House

Berkeley, CA 94720-7520

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAIDCal Alumni Association

Philanthropy NewsletterNotes

CAAGiving

Dear Cal alumni and friends,

Excitement and pride are in the air on campus. The women’s basketball team made history with Cal’s first trip to the Final Four. Prospective students tour campus with their hopeful parents—freshman

and transfer applications to Cal were up by eight percent and rose to a record high of 83,640. The renovation and revitalization of the Lower Sproul Plaza area began in March. It is a great time to be part of this invigorating campus and an amazing honor to be a Golden Bear!

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) continues to build community in support of Berkeley with an array of alumni programs and student services. In 2013, we are launching new programs designed to serve the diverse needs of Berkeley alumni. Some of our priority programs include The Berkeley Network career program, Southern California alumni programs, and a digital, interactive component to our award-winning California magazine. Our new alumni programs are designed to connect our global alumni community to campus and to each other.

You’ll learn more about The Berkeley Network in this issue of Giving Notes. In addition, you can enjoy photos from Charter Gala 2013, hear from the first cohort of Equity Scholars as they

graduate from UC Berkeley, and read about our Cal Advocacy and athletic events.

The work we do here at CAA is made possible thanks to your generosity. Whether you volunteer for scholarship interviews and readings, host viewing parties through your local alumni chapter, or make us your philanthropic priority, you are part of our legacy. Thank you for your continued commitment and support. Together, we keep Cal Golden.

Fiat Lux, and Go Bears!

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SPRING 2013

Jefferson C.M. Coombs ’89 Executive Director

GIVING NOTES PHILANTHROPY NEWSLETTER · SPRING 2013

GIVING NOTES PHILANTHROPY NEWSLETTER · SPRING 2013

Hundreds of dedicated alumni and ambitious Cal students gathered on the Alumni House patio this past February for career networking and lunch from a Berkeley institution. Top Dog with Top Dogs gives alumni the opportunity to provide direct guidance to young Golden Bears who are starting to learn about the many doors opened by a degree from UC Berkeley.

“It’s so awesome to be in the presence of dedicated alumni like the ones I met today,” said Nicholas Salire, a current senior, while munching on his chicken-apple hot dog. Top Dog, Berkeley’s most popular student lunch spot since 1966, grilled on site to satisfy everyone’s hunger. Participating alumni, in addition to providing students with sage guidance about career choices, also generously donated to help minimize the charge to student attendees.

Peter Leroe-Muñoz ’02 delivered remarks about the power and importance of lifelong dedication to our University. Moved by his energetic oration, the students in attendance gained a new appreciation for the Cal family of which they are a part. On his way out, Salire said “[This event] makes me want to come and give back to students and to Cal in the future.”

Top Dog with Top Dogs Alumni Delegates Head to the State Capitol

Cal Students Give Thanks

Giving to CAA on a regular basis has never been easier. You can now extend your support by making a recurring gift or regular payment with your credit or debit card. Recurring gifts allow CAA to serve our alma mater and vibrant alumni community so they stay connected to the University and to each other. Setting up a recurring donation gives us the confidence to expand our work and allows us to move a step closer to realizing our vision—to build and engage a broad alumni community that supports the University. Recurring gifts also allow you to make a larger commitment and break up your gift into smaller payments. To make a recurring gift today, please visit alumni.berkeley.edu/donate.

On March 19, more than one hundred UC alumni from all ten UC campuses advocated on behalf of the University of California at the State Capitol. Our eleven UC Berkeley delegates met with all nine of the

Bay Area state legislators and/or their senior staff and sent the message that the state must increase funding for UC Berkeley and its sister campuses. State funding, though now only 11 percent of Berkeley’s operating budget, is still essential to maintaining access to the best public university system in the world. In addition to meeting

with the Bay Area legislators, including Cal alumni Assembly Members Nancy Skinner ’77, M.A. ’89 and Bob Wieckowski ’77, our delegates visited thirteen other legislators who are Cal Bears. Later that evening, CAA and the UC Berkeley Office of Government & Community Relations hosted a reception for alumni staffers and legislators at The Park Ultra Lounge, a restaurant owned by Cal alumnus Mason Wong ’82. To learn more about Cal Advocacy, please visit alumni.berkeley.edu/advocacy.

Recurring Giving Is Now Available

CAA Board Members Aaron Mendelson ’02, Karen Leong Clancy ’76, Joyce Hicks ’77, Assembly Member Nancy Skinner ’77, M.A. ’89 and State Senator Loni Hancock show their support for UC Berkeley during UC Day in Sacramento.

It feels amazing. Words cannot explain how happy and proud I am of myself for this great accomplishment. It definitely feels bittersweet that this great adventure is coming to an end.

—Claudia Rocha

Grateful and enthusiastic Cal students participated in CAA’s Thankathon at Alumni House this past March. This annual event is a chance for students to express their gratitude to the donors who contribute to The Equity Scholarship, The Achievement Award Program, and The Leadership Award.

CAA’s Thankathon is one of the largest stewardship events on campus. Fifty-six CAA scholarship recipients wrote letters and made phone calls during the event. Some donors also received a thank you video email.

More than 700 donors were thanked for their continuous support of CAA’s scholarship programs. Your generosity helped CAA distribute nearly $1.9 million to more than 750 undergraduate students during the 2012–13 academic year. We are grateful for our donors!

CAA was proud to host the Official Pre-Game Hoops Parties in support of Cal Men’s Basketball. We had three successful parties this past season. Party-goers enjoyed a different format this year, with themed parties designed to engage specific audiences.

The first party of the year was for young alumni. More than 200 alumni from the Classes of 2002 through 2012 enjoyed fresh Italian cuisine, unlimited drinks, and an afternoon of fun before Cal’s 58–54 victory over the Oregon Ducks.

2013 Hoops Parties

Sneak Peak at The Berkeley NetworkThis fall CAA will launch The Berkeley Network, its new professional development and networking program. In preparation for the launch, CAA is now hiring a new director for the program and building partnerships to pilot events in year one. The Berkeley Network will provide programming and networking of broad interest as well as some targeted to specific industries. To reach our alumni, we will provide both online and offline programming—the latter in alumni hubs, such as the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Chief Program Officer Cindy Leung shares, “With limited resources and more than 450,000 alumni, it is a challenge to develop a set of offerings that can help the diversity of professional and career needs that our alumni have. To make the biggest impact, we need to focus on building a network of alumni who are willing to help each other professionally. Bears helping bears.”

This year, for the first time, CAA partnered with the Career Center to recruit alumni volunteers for the Cal Externship Program, which brings Cal students to Cal alumni workplaces for a one-day to multi-day externship during the winter break. With CAA’s support, 550 positions were sponsored by alumni and offered to Cal students, but we need at least 500 more to serve the needs of every student who wants to participate in this valuable program. Our goal is to ensure that every student interested in learning about a career from alumni receives that opportunity.

This spring CAA also partnered with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to offer a job coaching event called “UC Berkeley Night at the SF Job Forum.” The event was sold out within two days of registration opening. Similarly, our event with Kaplan Test Prep entitled “Careers That Matter: Alumni Panel & Networking” also sold out. Our own alumni survey from 2011 clearly demonstrated that one of the most important ways CAA can help alumni is to support their career development and connect them to other alumni professionally. To participate or learn more about this new program, please email TBN@alumni.berkeley.edu.

Life is a journey you can never fully prepare or plan for, and you shouldn’t try to. You don’t need to know every single detail about the future, just follow your interests and enjoy the here and now.

—Adolfo Gomez

Established in 2008, The Equity Scholarship provides an economic incentive for California’s high-achieving, underrepresented minority students to attend Cal. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and donors each Equity Scholar receives a four-year scholarship totaling $20,000. To make a gift to The Equity Scholarship, please visit alumni.berkeley.edu/donate.

The greatest lesson I learned at Cal is to be a critical thinker. Professors don’t give you questions that you can find directly in a book; they prompt you to look at all aspects of the question and draw your own conclusions.

—Claire-Marie Kooi

What is the greatest lesson you learned at Cal?

How do you feel about graduating from the number one public university in the world?

It is still hard to believe that I will be a Cal alumna! I could not be any more proud to carry that title.

—Nayely Chavez

During the annual Leadership Award Recognition Luncheon Marilyn ’42 and Wilbert Fountain ’41 (pictured with 2012–13 Leadership Award scholars) represent 12 endowments established by the Classes of 1941 and 1942.

This year, CAA’s first cohort of Equity Scholars will graduate from Cal. Most scholars are walking in May and a few will walk in December. Four short years ago they arrived on campus eager and full of anticipation while others felt overwhelmed and nervous. Today, many are excited and confident about what comes next with a UC Berkeley degree in hand.

First Cohort of Equity Scholars Graduates

The last hoops party welcomed all bears in a “family-friendly” format. Cal alumni and fans were encouraged to bring their little ones out for a bounce house, games, and fun with the Cal Band and cheer teams.

We hope to see you at Alumni House for CAA Hoops Parties in 2014!

At our second party, newly hired Cal Football Coach Sonny Dykes spoke to a sold-out audience of more than 160 enthusiastic alumni.