UC Riverside

Our donors come from all walks of life, all with their own reasons for giving to UCR.  Whether from community members, family of graduates or graduates of UCR themselves, each generous donation ensures that UCR can continue its tradition of institutional excellence.

I support UCR because of its unparalleled educational opportunities.

Judge John G. Gabbert
Trustee Emeritus, UCR Foundation

Chancellor's Associate member Judge John G. Gabbert, who celebrated his 100th birthday on June 20, 2009, is a long-time resident of Riverside and one of its most respected and beloved civic leaders.

His contributions to UCR began before the institution even existed when he was a founder of the Citizens University Committee in the late 1940's . The CUC was established to coordinate the city's efforts to convince members of a state commission to select Riverside as the site for a new University of California campus. Their efforts were successful when, in 1948, California Governor Earl Warren signed legislation authorizing UC to open a campus at Riverside.

Gabbert and the Citizens University Committee endured to help build the campus, both physically and academically. As a Chancellor's Associate, he continues to financially support the university and is proud that UCR is now a thriving and intellectually vital campus of over 18,000 students.

We are content in knowing that UCR will continue to provide innumerable opportunities for others as it did for our children. And for that reason we say Thank you.

Ruby Frazier
Trustee, UCR Foundation

The Frazier family came to Riverside in the fall of 2002 when their daughter, Briana, began her college career as a freshman at UCR.

The Frazier family credits their move to Riverside as the impetus needed to fulfill their dreams of forming their own real estate company. For that reason and the countless opportunities provided by UCR and the city, Ruby Frazier and her daughters, Jessica ('05), Briana ('06) and Erica, felt compelled to give back to UCR through the Chancellor's Associates Program.

Through their contributions, the Fraziers are able to stay informed, become more actively involved and participate financially in the development and growth of the campus.

In our leisure time, we enjoy what UCR offers to the community. At work we enjoy participating in UCR's mission of teaching, research, and outreach. It's a no-brainer to make sure that those objects of our passion get our financial support as well.

Dr. Norman Ellstrand and Dr. Tracy Kahn

UC Riverside Professors Norman Ellstrand and Tracy Kahn believe that "charity begins at home." Norman, a professor of genetics and director of the Biotechnology Impacts Center, and Tracy, a lecturer in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences and curator of the UCR Citrus Variety Collection, have been married for 25 years and have been Chancellor's Associates donors for just as long.

"How could we not donate to our favorite causes on campus? As opposed to some well-known but distant and faceless charities, we know exactly how our dollars will be used," they said. "From UCR's Cultural Events and the California Museum of Photography to its Citrus Variety Collection and Center for Conservation Biology, we are passionate about those and the many other programs that we give to as part of our annual Chancellor's Associates donation."

In no small measure, because of our education at UCR, we are fortunate to be able to donate to special UCR programs.

Mr. Dwight Tate and
Dr. Katherine Wright

Dwight Tate and Dr. Katherine Wright have deep connections to UC Riverside. As a child, Kathy enjoyed riding her bike through campus and visiting the small market within the married student housing area. She went on to earn her California elementary teaching credential, master’s degree, and administrative services credential from UCR. She is a retired district administrator with Riverside's Alvord Unified School District and interacts with UCR's Graduate School of Education by serving on the Dean's Advisory Board.

Born and raised in Riverside, Dwight attended UCR from 1966-68, finishing his bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley. He returned to UCR to obtain a secondary teaching credential in 1971. Staying close to his roots, Dwight works in Riverside as a senior financial adviser with Waddell & Reed.