Geffen Hall Dedication

Speech

Good afternoon, I want to thank our generous donors, alumni and all of you for being here! A special welcome to University of California Regent Richard Sherman. I’m delighted you could be a part of the festivities.

Today, we again celebrate David Geffen for his extraordinary philanthropic leadership. David is a long-time champion of UCLA, and his support is truly unparalleled.

Through his generosity, he is enabling UCLA to attract some of the most outstanding future medical professionals.

He understands the power and potential of having a world-class public research university in an extraordinary city, and he has provided the resources to ensure that our campus remains among the best for many years to come.

Just as he has done throughout his legendary career, David has invested in bringing great ideas to life.

Geffen Hall is both a beautiful and a vital addition to our campus. It will transform medical education and training for generations of physicians, health care leaders and scientists.

But David’s commitment to our campus community doesn’t stop here.

Just across the street from us is the Geffen Playhouse, a jewel of the Southern California arts scene for more than two decades. It’s a place where 130,000 visitors each year get to experience classic and contemporary works that entertain them and enrich their lives. And the Geffen’s education and outreach programs ensure live theater is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Also thanks to David’s generosity, UCLA will launch a unique new school this fall. The Geffen Academy at UCLA will serve students from across Los Angeles, and will move forward our efforts to advance secondary education. The academy will foster diversity, creativity, collaboration and a commitment to civic responsibility. And faculty and administrators will share best practices with schools throughout greater Los Angeles and beyond.

David, from the arts to secondary education to medicine, you have transformed our campus—and our community—for the better. For these reasons and so many more, we are grateful to you.

Thank you for your boundless drive to improve and enrich lives, and for entrusting all of us at UCLA to steward your vision for a better tomorrow.

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