UCI to get $4 million matching pledge for Jewish studies

In the single largest donation pledge that UC Irvine has received for studies on Jewish history and culture, the university has been promised a $4 million matching gift to benefit its growing Center for Jewish Studies, university officials said Monday, Aug. 1.

The money, donated by local philanthropists and Anaheim Ducks owners Susan and Henry Samueli, “will catalyze community support for Jewish studies at UCI and help UCI become a model for tolerance and appreciation of cultural and religious pluralism,” UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said in a statement.

The Samuelis will go dollar-for-dollar on contributions made to the center up to $4 million, said UCI spokesman Tom Vasich. University officials “are hoping the announcement of this match gift inspires an outpouring of gifts,” he added.

Part of the university’s School of Humanities, the Center for Jewish Studies was established in 2017 to explore Jewish history and Israeli society and politics.

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