“Giving to Berkeley is one of the most sure investments you can make. You can actually see who you are giving to. You just have to read the newsletters, go to campus once in a while, and attend alumni events. You know who will benefit, and who will go on to make the world better because of it.”

“We feel very strongly about the value of a Cal education and want to support making that education available to as many students as possible. We can only hope for many other California students to have the life-changing experience that our son Marco had.”

His last name aside, Jesse Gil has always been fascinated with marine life. He grew up near the ocean, recalls the first time he dissected a fish in third grade, and dipped his toe in other subjects before diving into the biological and marine sciences. “The science path is for me,” Jesse says.

“I’m incredibly proud to be part of this community, and grateful for everything Cal gave me. Giving back is just one small way I can help ensure others have access to the same opportunity.”

Brian Van Camp has stayed connected to Berkeley for a lot of reasons, for starters: the lifelong friends he has made at his alma mater and his passion for giving back to the university that has enriched his life so much.

Roger Samuelsen has long held UC Berkeley close to his heart. “One of my last roles as ASUC president was to join Clark Kerr and other dignitaries in breaking ground for the new student center and expressing gratitude for the generosity of alums and friends,” he recalls.