Our Challenge

 

 

Record-Breaking Gift Is Only The Beginning

 

On October 4, 2006, filmmaker George Lucas did more than make history through the  Lucas film Foundation's $175 million gift to the School of Cinematic Arts. He also set forth a bold challenge to the community at large to support the school today and ensure the future of the art form for generations to come. That challenge plays out on two vital fronts: facilities and endowment.

Of the total gift, $75 million is dedicated to erecting the primary elements of the new Cinematic Arts Complex. Beyond this generous initial funding, the 137,000-square-foot complex will require an additional $25 million to finish, furnish and bring it fully online by the December 2008 target completion date. These funds are essential to a broad range of infrastructure initiatives, including screening rooms, production suites, collaboration spaces, classrooms, offices, and the central plaza café.

The second part of the Lucas donation, pledged at $100 million, is dedicated to endowment. Endowment funds are vital to securing the long-term viability of any institution. Prior to the Lucas gift, Cinematic Arts supporters generously contributed to the endowment, raising it from $6 million in 1991 to some $50 million in 2006. The $100 million Lucasfilm commitment will bring that figure to $150 million, putting the school nearly three-quarters of the way toward its overall endowment goal of $200 million. Through prudent management, the annual yield from this fund will profoundly impact the school on multiple fronts. Students will enjoy enhanced academic and production support; faculty and staff activities will be bolstered; facilities, equipment and technology will be kept at top-notch; and alumni will receive guidance and support as they transition from their academic to professional pursuits.

The success of any cinematic arts endeavor—film, television, and interactive—stems not from the acts of a single person, but rather through the contributions of the greater community. In making this gift to USC, George Lucas has set the school firmly on its course and created an incredible opportunity for others to be a part of this extraordinary institution of the 21st century and beyond.