In a milestone for the campus, UC Santa Barbara has received visionary commitments totaling $22 million — including a record gift of $13.5 million in support of the arts and humanities — from alumnus and UC Santa Barbara Foundation Trustee John Arnhold ’75 and his wife Jody Arnhold, with their Arnhold Foundation. The total number also includes a new gift of $5 million to UC Santa Barbara Athletics and $3 million for the Arnhold UC Santa Barbara-Conservation International Climate Solutions Collaborative.
The Arnholds’ generosity has touched organizations local, national and global, engaged in everything from the arts to migration to climate change. More than philanthropists, the Arnholds closely partner with the institutions that they support. In partnership with UC Santa Barbara, the Arnholds have helped to build programs, such as the Arnhold Undergraduate Research Fellows Program in English and the Arnhold A&L Education Initiative, that are creating invaluable opportunities for students. Since 2005, Jody and John have invested nearly $50 million across the arts and humanities, athletics, environmental solutions and beyond.
"John and Jody are longtime, transformative supporters of our campus, and we are overwhelmed by their recent generosity to advance humanities and arts and athletics on our campus, in addition to their gift earlier this academic year to enhance collaboration on climate solutions,” said Chancellor Henry T. Yang. “These inspirational gifts will have a profound effect on the students, programming and leadership in these areas. Through their giving, and John's long-term exceptional guidance as a UC Santa Barbara Foundation trustee and dynamic leadership as its board chair over the past two years, the Arnholds are making a tremendous impact on our campus across the disciplines. Their vision is one that will have rich consequences for our campus and the broader community, now and far into the future."
The new Arnhold Arts and Humanities Commons, established with the $13.5 million pledge, will elevate the arts and humanities in immeasurable ways. By investing in the vision and leadership of Daina Ramey Berry, UCSB’s Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities & Fine Arts, the Arnholds are ensuring the expansion of successful initiatives in English, in theater and dance — including an endowed chair in dance studies — and in public humanities, as well as interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Their continued generous support for the Arnhold Arts & Lectures Education Initiative brings world-class artists and public intellectuals such as Wynton Marsalis and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to the campus for public programming, masterclasses and residencies to benefit UCSB students.
Via The Current article by Shelly Leachman - to read the full write-up, visit https://news.ucsb.edu/2024/021520/john-75-and-jody-arnhold-elevate-arts-humanities-and-athletics.