Philanthropy: In Support of Excellence

Nearly 700 Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) student musicians performed in front of a packed house on April 17 during the 41st annual Donald Bren Honors Concert held at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

During this annual signature event, Katie McEwen, IUSD board president, accepted a $2 million contribution in support of the district’s arts, music and science education. This financial support is part of a transformational 20-year, nearly $50 million funding commitment made by Irvine Company and the Donald Bren Foundation to provide exceptional arts, music and science education in the District through the Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund.

“Educational opportunity and excellence have always been at the heart of our planning efforts in Irvine,” said Irvine Co. Senior Vice President Jeff Davis. “The funding commitment made through the Excellence in Education Enrichment program has deepened our decades long partnership with IUSD, students and families to support enrichment programs in science, art and music.”

The Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund, established by Irvine Company’s funding commitment, helps provide specialized art, music and science programs to every fourth through sixth grader in the district. Since 2006, this program has served nearly 200,000 elementary students.