On March 17, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced an endowment of $2 million to establish the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Endowed International Student Support Fund at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The gift represents the largest and most substantial donation dedicated specifically to aiding international students with financial needs and is a tremendous step in the School’s ongoing mission to promote a more diverse and globally inclusive environment for creative growth. Students who receive the funds will be known as HFPA International Scholars.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press for this generous and impactful gift for international students,” said SCA Dean Elizabeth M. Daley. “It will allow us to attract and fund the education of diverse storytellers from around the world, which is an important step towards enacting real change within our industry. Support like this is usually talked about but never instituted, so we are indebted to the HFPA for having the vision to actually do it.  We look forward to seeing the global impact the HFPA International Scholars will make.”

This marks the beginning of what the School believes will be a fruitful partnership with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a non-profit organization of international journalists who are also known for establishing and producing the annual Golden Globe awards. The HFPA Charitable Trust has long been dedicated to supporting educational and philanthropic organizations that positively impact the entertainment industry, and this historic endowment at SCA is an ideal opportunity to help reflect the values and opportunities that both HFPA and SCA hope to see reflected throughout the industry at large.

“Speaking for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, it has been our pleasure and honor for years to help hopeful storytellers and the industry leaders of tomorrow experience the best education possible, in hopes that they may pursue their dreams to share their stories and have their distinct voices heard,” said HFPA President Lorenzo Soria. “We are proud to continue this tradition with such a distinguished institution as USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.”

Others like SCA Board of Councilors member Jim Gianopulous, former Chairman and CEO of Twentieth Century Fox Film, reflected Dean Daley and Mr. Soria’s excitement over the lasting implications of such support. “One of the many ways the face of the industry can change is by making it possible for new and diverse voices to have access to the best training in the cinematic arts,” he said. “The HFPA’s support toward this endeavor will indeed help make this change possible as there is no better place for this training, support and access than at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.”

Read the Los Angeles Times' coverage of the endowment, its impact on the industry, and SCA’s dedication to student support: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-hfpa-endowment-20170213-story.html