UC Irvine celebrated the successful close of its Brilliant Future campaign on Saturday, Oct. 4 – coinciding with the university’s 60th anniversary. Surpassing its $2 billion goal by almost half a billion dollars, the largest philanthropic campaign in Orange County history marks a transformative moment for the university and its future.

At a time when traditional funding sources are dwindling, the Brilliant Future campaign has demonstrated the power of private philanthropy in driving top-tier research, fostering academic excellence and advancing human progress.

The campaign’s success was fueled by a groundswell of support from more than 122,000 donors, capped by one extraordinary, last-minute commitment aimed at advancing groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research and care. This final gift of the multiyear effort ultimately pushed UC Irvine over $2.4 billion.