Someone's Gotta Give

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THE FOLLOWING LIST is by no means exhaustive. It is intended to illustrate the scope of philanthropy in San Diego and the wide range of beneficiaries here.

$1.5 billion from the estate of the late Joan Kroc to the Salvation Army, 2004. Joan Kroc was the billionaire widow of McDonald’s owner Ray Kroc and former owner of the San Diego Padres. She also bequeathed $200 million to National Public Radio (2003), and while alive gave $92 million to the Salvation Army Community Center, named for Ray and Joan Kroc, in 1998. The Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at USD opened in 2001. Joan Kroc donated $25 million for construction of the center and an additional $5 million to endow a lecture series on conflict and human rights.

$130 million from Irwin and Joan Jacobs to a number of organizations, including the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, 2002. The Jacobses also contributed $110 million to the UCSD School of Engineering in 2003. Irwin Jacobs is the founder, chairman and former chief executive officer of Qualcomm.

$100 million from Sam and Aline Skaggs to San Diego’s Scripps Research Institute to establish the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, 1996. Skaggs retired in 1995 as chairman of American Stores Company, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains.


$60 million from Ernest and Evelyn Rady to Children’s Hospital in Kearny Mesa (recently renamed Rady Children’s Hospital & Health Center), 2006. The Radys donated $30 million to UCSD to support the university’s School of Management in 2004. Ernest Rady was chairman and chief executive officer of Westcorp, an auto finance company.

$30 million from the estate of Rea and Jackie Axline to the San Diego Museum of Art, 1999. The couple also gave $30 million to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and $60 million to the California Institute of Technology. Rea Axline was the founder of Metalizing Engineering Company (later named METCO).

$20 million from John and Rebecca Moores to UCSD to help finance the university’s cancer center, 2000. John Moores is majority owner of the San Diego Padres team. The couple also gave $19 million to San Diego State University for the school’s athletic programs in 1999.

$20 million from Donald and Darlene Shiley to the Old Globe Theatre (the largest donation in the Globe’s history), 2006. Over the years, the Shileys have donated millions to local organizations, including USD ($10 million), UCSD ($15 million) and Scripps Clinic ($10 million). They also lend support to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and the UCSD Shiley Eye Center, among others. Donald Shiley made his fortune with the invention of an artificial heart valve.

$15 million from Jerome and Miriam Katzin to UCSD to help finance the university’s cancer center, 2000. Jerome Katzin is a former investment broker and lawyer.

$13 million annually from the Sol Price family through Price Charities, which consists of two foundations: the Price Family Charitable Fund and the San Diego Revitalization Program. Price Charities contributes to about 100 organizations. Sol Price, a pioneer of the warehouse store concept, founded Price Club in 1976. Price Club was purchased by Costco in 1993.

$12 million from the estate of Carol Joye Nelson to Rady Children’s Hospital & Health Center (formerly Children’s Hospital), 1997.

$12 million from the Leichtag Family Foundation for biomedical research focusing on childhood diseases, 2003. Lee and Toni Leichtag own M.D. Pharmaceuticals and are the cofounders of the Leichtag Family Foundation.

$10 million-plus from the Copley family through private contributions and donations from the Helen K. and James S. Copley Foundation, including $2.5 million to the San Diego Symphony, $2 million toward the construction of a new downtown library, $2 million to the San Diego Humane Society and $1 million to the University of San Diego for a scholarship fund. In addition, David Copley, son of James and Helen Copley, gave $5 million to Sharp HealthCare after undergoing heart transplant surgery at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Over the years, Helen Copley contributed to many local organizations, helped to secure a home for the San Diego Symphony and underwrote the University of San Diego library.

$10 million from Conrad Prebys to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest to expand the facility’s emergency department and trauma center, 2006. In 2005, Prebys, a theater buff, gave $10 million to the Old Globe Theatre. Prebys is a former real estate developer and current owner of Progress Construction.

$10 million from Jenny and Sidney Craig to the University of San Diego for the construction of the Jenny Craig Pavilion, which is used for athletic events, convocations and concerts, 1992. Jenny Craig is the founder of the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Plan.

$10 million from Pamela and Martin Wygod to Children’s Hospital & Health Center, 2001. Martin Wygod, a former stockbroker, is chairman of Emdeon Corporation.

$10 million from Richard and Maria (Gaby) Sulpizio to UCSD’s Cardiovascular Center, 2005. In 2004, the couple made a $3 million contribution to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego. Richard Sulpizio is former president and chief operating officer of technology giant Qualcomm.

An undisclosed endowment from Audrey Geisel for the UCSD Libraries. In honor of her gift, the university library was named Geisel Library. Audrey Geisel’s philanthropy has benefited numerous charities and organizations, including the National Hospice Foundation, the San Diego Zoological Society, Scripps Clinic & Research Foundation, the Mental Health Association, Voices for Children, the March of Dimes, the Ida Green Cancer Center, the San Diego Museum of Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe Theatre. Audrey Geisel is the widow of author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel and president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, overseeing licensing and productions based on the Dr. Seuss trademark. She also is president of the Dr. Seuss Foundation and the Dr. Seuss Fund, which supports a variety of causes and literacy programs.

Cecil and Ida Green made gifts that helped successfully construct the Cecil H. & Ida M. Green Hospital, known today as Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. Upon Ida Green’s death from cancer in 1986, Scripps Clinic & Research Foundation received its largest bequest up to that time. The Greens’ philanthropy touched educational and medical facilities around the world. CecilGreen was cofounder of Texas Instruments.

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