Why We Give

For gay men of a certain generation, coming out to family and friends posed serious risks. Oral histories and interviews tell heartbreaking stories of estrangement, abandonment, professional ruin and worse.

A Trojan Family Tradition of Giving Back

Every family has traditions passed down through generations. For the late Amy Dundon-Berchtold ’72 and her husband Jim, one of those traditions was giving back to USC—a practice that began with Amy’s mother, Joyce King Stoops, and her stepfather, Emery Stoops.

Words to Thrive By

When his youngest granddaughter, Aly, enrolled at USC, Won Ng MS ’60, PhD ’70 offered her this piece of advice: “Whatever you do, do your best.” That simple motto has brought Ng great success over the course of a life that took him from rural China to Southern California.

A “Self-Made Couple” Remembers Their Roots with Support for Scholarships

Bill and Gail Robinson are the very definition of a “self-made couple.” Married for more than 40 years, the Southern California natives grew up in middle-class families who instilled in them a strong work ethic that has brought them great success.

A Life Goal Achieved

“USC laid a foundation for my life that has led me to more riches—and I’m not talking financially—than I ever could have imagined,” Nancy Lueck ’74 explains. “It gives me joy to think that when I’m gone, I will have helped someone, specifically in the athletic program, to hopefully find their way in life and be as lucky as I have been.”

Building a Legacy Through Philanthropy

Growing up near LAX in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, Charles Isham '65, MBA '72 always wanted to graduate from a top-tier university so that his degree would be recognized and respected.

How One Phone Call Changed Everything

Nearly 50 years ago, a phone call forever changed the lives of Dixie Baker PhD '79, MS '84 and her husband, Jerry.

A Couple's Commitment—to Each Other and USC

To have a great love in your life is a gift beyond measure. To have many great loves is something rarer still, as demonstrated by Retired U.S. Navy Captain Paul R. Alwine '62 and his wife, Binnie.

The Secret of His Success

Over the course of his long career, James R. Parks '72, MBT '75 has achieved great success as an accountant, tax consultant, financial analyst and real estate investor. While many of his contemporaries have retired to practice their golf swings, the double USC alumnus shows no sign of slowing down.

A Trojan Spin on Serendipity

When double USC Viterbi School of Engineering alum John L. West '70, MS '72 reflects on his life and career, one word comes up repeatedly: serendipity. He believes that because of USC, everything has come together for him.

A Debt Repaid

Ever since sixth grade, Larry Kaplan MA '78 had wanted to be a journalist—specifically a newscaster. Growing up on Long Island, he had worked on his school paper and yearbook.

A Legacy of Leadership, Service and Philanthropy

When he was dean of the USC Gould School of Law, Scott Bice '65, JD '68, along with his wife, Barbara, spent a lot of time courting potential major donors.

A USC Faculty Member Creates a Legacy

Raquel Arias MD '82 isn't a typical USC faculty member—as the associate dean of admissions at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, she reviews 9,000 or so applications a year and helps determine which 186 future doctors are accepted to the school.

Making Sure We Move Forward by Looking Back

When it comes to education, Elizabeth Van Hunnick ’56 thinks the ancient Greeks had the right idea.

A Second Opinion, a Second Chance

Robert Spyksma vividly remembers that day in 2007, when he learned that he had cancer—and that his prognosis wasn’t good.

There’s No Disputing USC’s Influence on Their Lives—and Vice Versa

Richard and Karla Chernick are so grateful to have had USC and the Trojan Family in their lives that they made the largest single gift ever to the 122-year-old USC Gould School of Law.

In Memoriam: Dr. June Pollak

In life, June Pollak B.A. ’49, M.A. ’51, Ph.D. ’61 had a generous spirit and was inspired to help others achieve their goals. With her passing, she leaves a wonderful legacy at USC that honors her empathetic nature and love of learning.

A Generous Gift from a Great Generation

When Bert McCormack '60 came back from a year in Korea with the U.S. Marines, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary, and enrolled at USC’s business school on the G.I. bill. The young couple had $500 in the bank.

Volunteers Leave a Lasting Legacy

Sue and Steve Wilder's decision to volunteer at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital was an easy one; figuring out exactly how to include the hospital in their estate plans was a little trickier.

One More Trojan Behind the Magic

Dennis Fernow '63 never imagined that a chance encounter with a homeless man in Los Angeles would forever change his life. While Fernow says the young Austrian (whom we'll call Martin to protect his privacy) was crippled by mental illness and addiction, underneath was a kind and intelligent soul.

Honoring Our Veterans with an Endowed Scholarship

The G.I. Bill made it possible for 1st Lt. Walter Michal Ross to earn a degree from USC in 1949. Today, almost 70 years later, his daughter Cindy Ross Schrank '68 hopes to help more military veterans and active-duty service members follow in her father's footsteps.

A Planned Gift to Cheer About

Judy Hunter's first love was football. As the only child of a father who was a huge football fan, Hunter '63 became a student of the game at a young age. Attending USC in the early 1960s deepened her love for football even more.

Why We Give

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