In a significant nod to their alma mater, the estate of Lawrence "Larry" Layne, a UCLA alumnus, has bequeathed more than $40 million to the university, a benefaction that spans several departments, CBS News Los Angeles reports; marking one of the more substantial acts of generosity the institution has seen from a single donor, the funds are distributed across athletics, health sciences, business education, and the arts.
The majority of the donation, $17.3 million, will funnel into UCLA's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, $9.6 million is earmarked for football, $7.7 million for men's basketball, which includes a focus on programs and services aimed at bolstering the mental health of athletes, and an additional $3.8 million will boost the rugby program where Layne once made a significant impact, according to official statements from UCLA.
But Layne's generosity didn't stop at sports, his former enterprise: $11.4 million is being directed to UCLA Health, poised to propel forward research in cardiology and hepatology, areas where UCLA scientists have recently made strides, meanwhile, $5.7 million will support entrepreneurial and real estate studies at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and nearly $2 million is set to enrich UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance, broadening its cultural reach.
UCLA officials have been vocal about their gratitude, with Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond acknowledging Layne's deep passion for UCLA Athletics, stating, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for Larry’s longstanding history of generosity to both our campus and athletic department, including this transformational gift," adding that Layne's input fortifies the institution's pursuit of success in the evolving landscape of college sports, both for present and future Bruin athletes, echoing sentiment concerning the endowment's potential to advance Division I and club sports teams, medical research, graduate business education and the arts.
Chancellor Julio Frenk highlighted the broader impact of such philanthropy, saying, "Larry Layne’s philanthropy demonstrates how UCLA helps our students discover their passions and purpose and build lifelong connections," with Layne's widow, Sheelagh Boyd, indicating that UCLA was always a focal point of Layne's life, wherein his legacy shall empower young Bruins to chase their aspirations across various realms of academia and athletics, according to statements obtained by UCLA Newsroom.
