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UCLA's Anderson School Receives $25M Gift

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The UCLA Anderson School of Management announced Monday a $25 million gift -- the largest in the school's history -- from longtime supporters John E. and Marion Anderson.

The gift brings to nearly $42 million the amount the Andersons have donated to the school. In recognition of their first gift, the school was named the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA in 1987.

"We are immensely grateful for this tremendously generous gift from John and Marion Anderson," said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, who noted that John received the highest honor bestowed by UCLA, the UCLA Medal, in 1995 for contributions to his profession and society.

UCLA Anderson dean Judy Olian said the couple's gift will enable the school to invest "in a broad range of strategic initiatives, including research that advances management thinking and practice, curriculum initiatives that prepare our students to become global leaders, and student support that attracts the most talented candidates from around the world."

"I was very lucky to come to UCLA on a scholarship, and I've never forgotten that," John Anderson said. "The lessons and values I learned while attending UCLA shaped my thinking throughout my business and community life and helped build my business reputation. Giving back to the school is my way of enabling future generations to have the kind of opportunities that UCLA offered me. It is simply doing the right thing."

In addition to the current gift and the naming gift to the business school, the Andersons' philanthropy has supported the dean's John E. Anderson Chair in Management, as well as the Marion Anderson Chair in Management and the Marion Anderson Courtyard.

He is currently president of Topa Equities Ltd., which owns more than 40 businesses involved in agriculture, insurance, real estate, wholesale beverage distribution and automotive dealerships.

Marion Anderson is vice chairman of Topa Equities Ltd. and is an active member of the UCLA Anderson board of visitors.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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