Voices for good
The “why” and “how” of giving are different for everyone. UC Davis donors share what makes their support personal.
Joleen Lonigan, R.N., M.S.N., NE-BC
Associate chief nursing officer and executive director, Patient Care Services at UC Davis Medical Center
“As a nurse for over 20 years at UC Davis Health, I have witnessed the work we do to improve the lives of patients and our community. I started giving slowly, before joining the Founding Donors campaign for the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Today, I am honored when I walk by the beautiful building and see the annual graduating nurses, and know I had a small piece in making this dream a reality. UC Davis Health is an organization that I believe in to do the extraordinary!”
Andrea Alberini
UC Davis Foundation trustee
“Carlos and I support the UC Davis Foundation as a way to express our gratitude for the superior education our daughter, Alexis, received at UC Davis while attending the College of Letters and Science.”
Deborah Thompson-Austin ’87
Cal Aggie Alumni Association Board of Directors, DEI Committee chair
“I have the privilege of seeing the impact of the UC Davis MIND Institute’s research, clinical service and training programs each and every day. As a result, I feel compelled to help advance the mission of the Institute in any way I can. As a donor, I personally focus on supporting graduate students, innovative programs reducing social inequities and postsecondary programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Leonard Abbeduto, Ph.D.
Retired director and emeritus faculty, UC Davis MIND Institute
Former Tsakopoulos-Vismara Endowed Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
“I have the privilege of seeing the impact of the UC Davis MIND Institute’s research, clinical service and training programs each and every day. As a result, I feel compelled to help advance the mission of the Institute in any way I can. As a donor, I personally focus on supporting graduate students, innovative programs reducing social inequities and postsecondary programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Virginia “Ginny” Cahill, M.A. ’68, J.D. ’81
Faculty emeritus, UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
“I am grateful to the UC Davis School of Law for my legal education, which allowed me to pursue an interesting and rewarding career in environmental law. I give to the School of Law because I care deeply about the environment and would like to encourage and support future law students with an interest in protecting the environment. When I attended King Hall more than 40 years ago, the students learned in a supportive and cooperative atmosphere, and I believe that still stands true today.”
Roger Halualani ’89, MBA ’91
UC Davis Foundation trustee
"My professional successes have been, in large part, due to my education and experiences at UC Davis and the Graduate School of Management. It is important for me to give back when and where I can to provide resources, assistance and experiences to current and future MBA students and campus entrepreneurs. My giving back is a great investment in the future of the school and university, as well as to our larger community, the state and everyone."
Jassan Dhami ’24
UC Davis Student Foundation trustee
Marketing and Stewardship Committee for Aggies Helping Aggies
“I give to the UC Davis Student Foundation because I want to help remove barriers to education that many students face. I believe that a quality education should be available to anyone willing to learn. As a trustee on the Student Foundation Board, I am also able to engage fellow students in discussions of philanthropy and share with them the important role it plays across the entire campus. I hope to encourage students to give their time to support this mission of school-wide philanthropy, and hopefully get more people interested in joining the Student Foundation.”
