Newswise — The University of Southern California is receiving a $50 million gift from the Price Family Charitable Fund to endow and name the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and to cement its standing as one of the most progressive and prestigious American schools of public affairs.
The gift honors the life and legacy of the late Sol Price, USC alum, founder of Price Club, business entrepreneur and leader with a deep commitment to addressing social justice and poverty. In recognition of that commitment, the gift also will create the USC Sol Price Center for Social Innovation at the school. “USC has one of the finest public policy schools in the nation,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “With the Price family’s extremely generous gift, we will take the school to an even higher level of excellence, ensuring that it becomes the undisputed, international leader in the field of public policy.”
In announcing the gift, Robert Price, Sol’s son and chairman of the fund, said: “The school’s approach to public policy and administration, urban planning, real estate development and health care is closely aligned with the core principles my father held dear. Endowing the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy not only honors my father’s legacy but also advances sound research and scholarship and develops future leaders who will serve at the forefront of social change. This gift will have an enduring impact on society.”
“The missions of the school and Price Charities are built upon a common conviction that positive societal change grows out of a holistic approach to social and economic issues,” said Jack H. Knott, dean of the USC Sol Price School, formerly named the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development. “This is a transformational gift for the school that enables us to amplify the mission we share with the Prices to improve the quality of life for people and communities here and across the world.” The school, which ranks seventh among 269 schools of public affairs nationwide, houses five independent but related degree programs in public policy and public administration, urban planning, real estate development and health management and policy; and excels at interdisciplinary work in the areas of governance, urban development and social policy. The gift also will be used to launch the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation, a collaboration between the school and Price Charities that will seek to promote sustainable and replicable models of community development in low-income urban areas. The center will combine academic rigor and practice-based expertise, along with firsthand opportunities for students and practitioners, to define innovative models that leverage public, private and nonprofit resources. The center will benefit Southern California urban communities in perpetuity, including a special emphasis on the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego.
By contributing to a deepening knowledge base around the subject, promoting public dialogue and evaluating various efforts nationwide, the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation will seek to serve as a positive force for community development across the country.
Sol Price earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from USC in 1936 and a USC law degree in 1938. His wife, Helen Price, graduated from USC in 1937 with a bachelor’s degree in English and history.
About the Price Family Charitable FundFounded in 1983 by Sol Price and his wife, Helen, the Price Family Charitable Fund is committed to improving the lives of families living in low-income urban communities. Since its founding, the fund has led the City Heights Initiative, which employed a holistic approach to revitalizing the mid-city San Diego neighborhood.
About USCThe University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, USC enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.
About the USC Sol Price School of Public PolicyThe USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, established in 1929, is one of the premier schools of its kind in the nation. Through a time-honored commitment to public service, a legacy of strong connections to professional leaders and a world-renowned research portfolio, the school’s faculty, students and alumni work to improve the quality of life for people and their communities worldwide.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy is at the forefront of research and teaching on today’s major issues, including: housing and real estate markets, environmental sustainability, health care, economic development, transportation and infrastructure, governance and leadership, nonprofits and philanthropy, civic engagement, immigration and the impact of terrorism.
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