USC $200 Million Donation

The University of Southern California is receiving the biggest donation in the history of the Los Angeles university, a $200 million gift from businessman David Dornsife and his wife Dana Dornsife.

The Dornsifes' donation will support the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences without any spending restrictions.

USC President Max Nikias praised the donors, saying:

"Especially in the economic environment we are in, this gift makes a big statement about the importance of the humanities and social sciences in the university, not just the sciences," Nikias said. "It's a very, very transformative gift."

A 1965 USC business graduate, David Dornsife is chairman of Herrick Corporation, a Stockton-based, privately held steel fabrication company.

David, 67, and Dana, 49, have six children and eight grandchildren between them.  The couple are residents of the Northern California community of Danville.

The record-breaking $200 million donation from Dana and David Dornsife to USC exceeds the university's previous record of $175 million from fellow alumnus George Lucas.

The #1 California blog joins Californians in acknowledging the Dornsifes' extremely generous gift to higher education while congratulating the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences.