Volume 26 · Number 3 · Spring 2009
Giving
Giving to the UC Davis Parents Fund
Gifts to the UC Davis Parents Fund provide valuable undergraduate student support. (Photo: Karin Higgins/UC Davis)
Support from parents goes well beyond their own students.
When Tom Quaglia ’79 graduated from UC Davis nearly 30 years ago, he had no idea that one of his future children would also become an Aggie. But he and his wife, Karen, were elated when their son, now a freshman in environmental science and management, decided that UC Davis offered the best match in terms of academic excellence and a home-town atmosphere.
“I know from my experience that the UC Davis environment is designed to help students discover what matters to them as individuals and provide them with the essential tools they’ll need to be successful professionals and informed world citizens,” Quaglia said.
In their desire to further enhance the opportunities available to their son and other UC Davis students, the Quaglias joined nearly 7,000 other parents last year in making a gift to the UC Davis Parents Fund. Parents have a long history of giving to UC Davis and this fund recognizes and thanks parent donors who generously give unrestricted support to the university. Last year parents gave nearly $500,000 to the UC Davis Parents Fund.
Gifts to the Parents Fund are unrestricted and work as part of the overall UC Davis Annual Fund—allowing great flexibility to meet important priorities universitywide. For example, the Parents Fund supports many aspects of undergraduate education and experience, including scholarships, classroom upgrades, special student-run projects and faculty awards. For the past century, UC Davis has produced lifelong learners and leaders who exemplify the university’s commitment to world-class teaching, pioneering research and a dedication to public service. These gifts to the Parents Fund provide the students of today and tomorrow the ability to further UC Davis’ impact on the world.
UC Davis has long recognized parents’ role in the campus community and their desire to keep up with their students’ college experiences. To help parents stay better connected, in 2002 UC Davis launched Aggie Family Pack, a monthly electronic newsletter and Web site for students’ families: aggiefamilypack.ucdavis.edu. There, parents can access information on topics from academic advising and financial matters to housing and health issues. UC Davis Magazine also devotes a special department to parents.
UC Davis parents Geoff and Colleen Tate have already witnessed the positive impact of a UC Davis education on one of their children. Their daughter graduated from UC Davis last year and is now enrolled in another institution where she is pursuing her master’s in special education. She takes courses in the evening and works during the mornings in a special education class for third- through fifth-graders, assisting the students with reading and language development.
“She loves what she’s doing, and her experiences through a UC Davis internship at a local elementary school helped her get to where she is now,” said Colleen Tate.
The Tates also have a son in his second year at
UC Davis. Through numerous visits to his sister on campus, he also developed an affinity for the university and chose to pursue studies in the biological sciences due to the university’s excellent reputation in that field. The Tates say they couldn’t be happier that both children chose a UC Davis education and have enjoyed seeing them grow not only in the academic sense, but also as individuals as a result of their university experiences.
“UC Davis’ distinctive approach to undergraduate education has opened doors and marvelous possibilities for our children,” said Colleen Tate. “Because of the university’s excellence and the gratitude we feel as we see our children blossom, we are happy to support the UC Davis Parents Fund.”
Gifts to the UC Davis Parents Fund can be made online. For general information about making gifts to UC Davis, visit Giving to UC Davis.