Advancement Foundation to Change Name To Reflect Its Relationship to University

In January, the University Advancement Foundation will become known as the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation. The name is in keeping with a desire to provide a clearer link with the university, said Mary Jacobson, senior director for university advancement.

“The name University Advancement Foundation really didn’t convey the foundation’s relationship to Cal State Fullerton,” she explained. “It sometimes created confusion with donors, foundations and corporations, who wanted to be certain that their funds were supporting the university.

“We want people on campus and off to understand that we raise money for the benefit of the entire university. We hope this name and logo change will strengthen awareness of the foundation’s primary mission, which is to support the people and programs of Cal State Fullerton.

” The foundation enables the university to: engage highlevel volunteers in activities that directly support the university; enhance the management and investment of endowments and planned gifts; promote CSUF through the ambassadorship of the foundation’s board of governors; and focus donor relations and stewardship to build quality relationships that lead to major gifts.

Originally chartered as a nonprofit corporation in California in 1993 to further the educational purposes and objectives of Cal State Fullerton, the foundation – through its board – has managed all university gift funds; created, managed and built endowments; overseen planned giving instruments, such as trusts and annuities; and been responsible for gift transactions involving real property.

Board members include alumni Wylie Aitken, attorney; Dan Black (B.A. physics ’67), chair of ProThera Inc.; Steve Charton (B.A. business administration ’71), president and CEO, Charton Group; Ronald V. Davis (B.A. business administration ’69), CEO, Davis Capital LLC; Len Dreyer (B.A. business administration ’72), retired CEO and chair, Marie Callender Pie Shops Inc.; Annette Feliciani (B.A. business administration ’80), president, AEF Systems Consulting Inc.; Julie Greiner (B.A. business administration ’75), executive vice president and director of stores, Bloomingdale’s; attorney Peter Kelly (B.A. political science ’72); Wayne “Buz” Knyal, founder and CEO, Wireless Capital Partners LLC; Margaret McCarthy (B.A. political science ’84), director, Paradigm Ventures; Kerri Ruppert (B.A. business administration ’82), senior vice president and CFO, Children’s Hospital of Orange County; Christopher Schmidt (B.A. business administration ’81), president and COO, Moss Adams LLP; and Raul Tapia (B.A. political science ’72), managing director, C2 Group.

Also serving are President Milton A. Gordon; Rudy Hanley, president and CEO, Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union; Pamela Hillman, vice president of university advancement; Stephen Knott, retired general partner, Knott’s Berry Farm; William McGarvey, director of community relations, Anderson & Lynn CPAs; Mona Mohammadi, executive vice president, Associated Students Inc.; Marilyn Powell- Berns, retired educator; Frank Quevedo, vice president, equal opportunity, Southern California Edison Co.; and Jim Volz, professor of theatre and dance.

All account holders will be sent letters notifying them of the name change, says Jacobson. Additionally, the foundation’s Web site, letterhead and accounting firms will reflect the new name effective Jan. 1.