$10 million gift from Dan and Phyllis Epstein to support military-connected university students
The University of San Diego (USD) announced that longtime supporters Dan and Phyllis Epstein, through the Epstein Family Foundation, have committed $10 million — their largest current gift to the university — to support the new Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence (MCCE). The gift is a challenge match aimed at raising an additional $10 million for the Center.
The MCCE is dedicated to USD’s military-connected students, who include both active-duty personnel and veterans, as well as spouses and dependent children. The MCCE will further students’ educational and career goals and serve as a premier destination for service members, veterans and their families.
“Our family is honored to support this important initiative, ensuring that military-connected students have the resources they need and deserve,” said Dan Epstein. “We invite the community to join us in this effort to create pathways of opportunity for those dedicated to lives of service and leadership. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for students today and for future generations.”
The MCCE will greatly enhance on-campus services, assist students in their transition to civilian life and act as a community resource for the greater military population in San Diego.
Through the creation of expanded space, the addition of dedicated staff and specialized programming, the MCCE will increase much-needed support for military-connected students. These facilities will also serve as a bridge to the wider campus, exposing students to military-related topics and deepening appreciation for the sacrifices, experiences and contributions of military-connected individuals.
“This transformative gift will have a lasting impact on the lives of our student veterans, empowering them with the resources, opportunities and support they need to thrive in their academic and professional journeys,” said USD Director of Military and Veteran Programs Nelson Chase.
“Thanks to this incredible commitment, generations of veterans and their families will find a welcoming and enriching environment at USD, ensuring their success both in the classroom and beyond.”
The Epstein family’s generous gift of $10 million to the MCCE is a call to action focused on inspiring further generosity from the USD community.
The Epsteins will challenge USD to match the $10 million investment by raising a minimum of $2 million each year during the next 5 years.
You can help USD meet the challenge by making a donation today.
All support will have a direct and lasting impact on these students and families, who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country.
“We are deeply grateful to the Epstein Family for their generous support in advancing USD’s commitment to our military-connected students,” said University of San Diego President James T. Harris III, DEd.
“Their leadership in this initiative will create lasting opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families, strengthening our campus and community. To fully realize this vision, we invite our Torero family to join us in meeting this matching challenge—together, we can build a future that honors, supports, and empowers those who have served.”
During the last 16 years, Dan Epstein’s philanthropic support spans a wide array of areas at USD. Notably, he has supported USD’s military-connected students, real estate students and faculty and the Real Estate Awareness and Diversity Initiative (READI) program. Dan is a Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate Policy advisory board member.
As announced at the Burnham-Moores Center’s Annual Real Estate Conference in March 2024, the ‘Campaign for Student Success’ to benefit the real estate program students and faculty surpassed its goal, raising $11.8 million. Dan led the way and provided a significant increase in scholarships for military and veteran-connected students in real estate by providing a challenge gift. On a one-to-two basis, he matched dollars raised up to $600,000, committing $1,900,000 for military and veteran-connected student scholarships. Since the fund’s inception, 12 students have received $70,000 in scholarship support thanks to the generosity of the Epstein Family Foundation.