Santa Clara University

Campaign News

Southern California campaign kickoff

Nearly 400 Santa Clara University supporters, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood in May for the Southern California kickoff of SCU's $350 million fund-raising campaign.

Attorney Louis M. Castruccio '60, shown here with SCU President Paul Locatelli, S.J., was honorary chairman of the kickoff.

The West Hollywood event, featuring University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., was hosted by television producer and director Andy Ackerman '78, and his wife, Betsy '78. Attorney Louis M. Castruccio '60, was honorary chairman.

Locatelli noted that there are more than 13,700 alumni, parents, and friends of SCU in Southern California. More than 400 current students-about 10 percent of the undergraduate population-hail from the region, as do 190 President's Club members.

The president reminded attendees that a successful campaign would help Santa Clara "be known around the world for educating effective global citizens."

"The good news is that through our quiet phase and the eight months since we launched the campaign publicly, we have passed the halfway mark [of the $350 million goal]," Locatelli said.

Ackerman, who has been involved with shows such as "Cheers," "Seinfeld," "Frasier," and "Everybody Loves Raymond," called SCU "so much more than a university. It is a community."

"As a student there, I couldn't help but feel a benevolent spirit looking out for my future," he said. "So, today it is a great pleasure for Betsy and me to be a part of Santa Clara's future."

Special guests included Andy Ackerman '78, Kurt Rambis '80, Linda Rambis, and Betsy Ackerman '78.

Betsy Ackerman said her parents had a philosophy that she and her husband have tried to pass along to their children. "They believed there are only two treasures a parent can provide that will last a lifetime: faith and education," she said. "Santa Clara University embodies the best of these virtues by shaping compassionate leaders who go on to help transform their families, their communities, and our world."

"Andy and I want to take part in this Campaign for Santa Clara," she continued. "We see the potential of this university to become one among a select group of top universities of choice for outstanding young people from around the country and around the world."