February, 2010

Dear Friends of USC,

We’re thrilled to announce that the USC Hillel Foundation will honor USC President Steven Sample Thursday evening, May 6, at 6:00 pm at the Skirball Cultural Center. This event is a celebration of President Sample’s efforts on behalf of generations of Jewish student leaders and is a fitting tribute to a true visionary leader who transformed Jewish life at USC.

Many of us are familiar with President Sample’s remarkable achievements as a teacher, university administrator and fundraiser. He transformed USC not only into the world class institution it is today, but has been integral in changing the school’s culture and academic standards to attract the best and brightest students and faculty from around the world.

In August, 1996, President Sample championed the hiring of Rabbi Susan Laemmle as Dean of Religious Life. Rabbi Laemmle, who served as USC Hillel Executive Director for nearly 5 years and continues her involvement with Hillel today, was the first non-Christian Dean appointed to an Office of Religious Life at any research institution in the nation. President Sample continued to transform Jewish life at USC by bolstering the school’s efforts to identify, reach and attract talented Jewish students. He also engaged successful Jewish philanthropists, through the Board of Trustees, generating unparalleled financial support to our schools, centers and institutes. We are extremely grateful to President Sample for his role in building and supporting Jewish institutions on campus such as the Casden Institute, Chabad at USC, the Jewish Studies Department, and most recently, the Shoah Institute, as well as off campus institutions such as USC Hillel and Hebrew Union College.

To ensure that future generations of Jewish Trojans have a place to call home, we invite you attend the event and purchase a sponsorship in President Sample’s name. The enclosed Sponsorship Form provides you with all you need to know in order to be part of this historic event. You may also read more about the event by going to www.uschillel.org/gala.

Know that your support will directly benefit the extraordinary students at USC Hillel –an essential institution which develops exceptional leaders, responsible citizens, and ethical human beings. Whether looking for spiritual nourishment, cultural fulfillment, or simply to find a community, USC Hillel Foundation has been and continues to be there for our students. USC Hillel’s mission, to enrich the lives of students so that they may enrich the Jewish community AND the world, is worth all of our support.

Be part of that continuing transformation of Jewish life today and support the students of tomorrow by contacting us at GALA@uschillel.org.

Sincerely,

Stanley P. Gold
Gala Honorary Chairman

Marcie & Cliff Goldstein
Event Co-Chairs

Susie & Jaime Gesundheit
Event Co-Chairs

Linda & Howard Schwimmer
Event Co-Chairs