November 5, 2003

Joan B. Kroc Leaves USD $50 Million for Peace

Raising her total gift to two universities to
$100 million for the study of peace

By: shannonleskin
PNN Online

San Diego, November 5, 2003

The University of San Diego (USD) and the University of Notre Dame have received two of the largest gifts ever given for the study of peace from the estate of Mrs. Joan B. Kroc, who died on October 12 after a brief illness. The $50 million USD endowment will establish the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD. Mrs. Kroc also bequeathed $50 million to the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Funds from the USD endowment will educate and train graduate students in peace and conflict studies, support the addition of professional staff and faculty with recognized expertise in peace studies, and expand the Institute's work in peacemaking and peacebuilding.

"We are eternally grateful to Mrs. Kroc for this gift. Her contributions to the University will continue her legacy for many years to come by educating students committed to her vision of building a more peaceful and just world," said USD President Mary Lyons. "Peace and conflict studies, social justice, and concern for humanity lie at the foundation of our identity as a Catholic institution. The Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego draws upon Catholic social teaching that sees peace as inseparable from justice and acts to prevent and resolve conflicts that threaten local, national and international peace. What better way to honor Mrs. Kroc?" added Lyons.

"Creation of a School of Peace Studies is groundbreaking, giving prominence to a field of study still relatively young, but so desperately needed in today's world. This gift will permit us to attract the finest international scholars and practitioners to teach, research, and conduct the work of peacemaking," said Dr. Joyce Neu, Executive Director of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. "Having had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Kroc, I believe her presence will be felt for generations to come as we move forward to celebrate her life by, in her words, 'not only talking about peace, but making peace," said Dr. Neu. Before her death, Mrs. Kroc said, "Now they will know I'm serious about peace!"

"In 1998, Mrs. Kroc's generous gift of $25 million established the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD. A few years later, Mrs. Kroc gave an additional $5 million to endow the Institute for Peace & Justice's Distinguished Lecture Series," stated Liam McGee, Chairman of USD's Board of Trustees.

"Mrs. Kroc's confidence in the University's ability to carry forward her vision is evidenced through her generous gifts. She deeply understood the need to educate for peace and she trusted USD, a university dedicated to teaching and modeling ethics, values, and respect for differences, to implement her vision of creating a more peaceful world," added McGee.

In 1986, Mrs. Kroc gave $6 million to create the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame. Over the years she gave an additional $13.1 million to the Institute at Notre Dame, contributing a total of over $69 million.

ABOUT USD

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls approximately 7,000 students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service. The establishment of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies will bring the University's total number of schools and colleges to six. Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Education, Law, and Nursing and Health Science.

Original Article

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