President’s Message
Charles R. Drew University of Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºì has been called a hidden gem for the work we have done in relative anonymity since our founding in 1966. Those days are behind us as we evolve from a hidden gem into a shining jewel of South Los Angeles and a beacon for those seeking to achieve health equity everywhere. We serve the underserved. We represent the underrepresented. We are CDU.
We have come so far from our humble beginnings as a collection of mobile trailers in a dirt field located in the middle of a community reeling from a civil uprising that shook the world. We’ve grown to encompass three schools that offer nearly twenty different undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that go beyond providing education to instilling values and compassion like no other university can.
CDU’s commitment to equity and inclusion has made us the #2 school in America for student and faculty diversity. We are thrilled about this accolade because we continue to train our students to provide health services and perform research with excellence and compassion. In turn, a majority of our students indicate they intend to practice in their communities once graduating from our institution. In recent years, Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºìhas been repeatedly cited as a top school for our alumni early career salaries and growth. Not just among medical schools or minority-serving institutions, but in the nation!
We have made tremendous progress and the momentum is in our favor. We now undertake an ambitious $75 million comprehensive fundraising campaign to help fuel our mission and propel our vision. I invite you to join us on our journey to excellent health and wellness for all in a world without health disparities. The roads to such lofty destinations are more easily traveled when not traveling alone. Together we can achieve a better future for our students and our society.
Rising from the ashes of the Watts Rebellion in 1966, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science (CDU) has dedicated its tenet to answering the call for healthcare equity and social justice. Leading nationwide efforts to serve those who are often underserved and underrepresented.
Through an unprecedented $75 million campaign, we will invest in student success by prioritizing the expansion of scholarships and support services. With increased capacity of our general operations, we will grow core programs and strengthen the reach of our teacher-scholars utilizing the Â鶹´«Ã½Å®ÍøºìAdvantage, our unique education model. To accommodate our growth, we will build a state-of-the-art health professions education building to house our own 4-year medical school, increasing our space to broaden our local, national, and global impact for social justice and healthcare equity.
With support from hundreds of individuals, our corporate and foundation partners, the Â鶹´«Ã½Å®ÍøºìRising Campaign met its $75 million goal nearly three years ahead of schedule. To assure we continue to provide the best service and opportunities for our students, the campaign goal has been increased to $95 million with a strong emphasis on funding for the construction of the Health Professions Education Building (HPEB).
Campaign Goals
01.
Scholarships | $20 Million
Invest in student success. Many Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºìstudents are the first in their families to attend college. Over 90% of them receive some form of financial aid and often require scholarships to complete their education and earn their degrees. Investing in the lives of these deserving students pays enormous dividends via direct economic impact to various regions, and most importantly, an upwards shift in social mobility for them and their families.
02.
Â鶹´«Ã½Å®ÍøºìGeneral Fund | $25 Million
Grow general operating support. CDU’s maintains operational excellence through faculty and staff development, new academic programs and projects, information system and other technological improvements, remodeling, building renovation and modernization, as well as new construction, deferred maintenance and other initiatives and priorities not covered by tuition or fees. Support for our unrestricted fund allows Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºìto pursue the highest ideals of medicine and science training with a sharp focus on reducing health disparities.
03.
Capital Investment | $30 Million
Build a state-of-the-art health professions education building. Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºìcarries on its shoulders the responsibility of educating ethno-competent healthcare professionals in order to support the dynamic and every-changing health needs of our world. With a new Health Professions Education Building
(HPEB), Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Íøºìwill have the physical infrastructure to directly address our mission and meet the demand.
Campaign Progress
Campaign Goal: $75 million – Reached! Extended Goal: $95 million
Number of Students Impacted
