For Berkeley alumni, reunion years are an ideal time to reconnect with the University, revisit fond memories, and give back to the campus. Younger alums, in particular, play a key role in fundraising efforts — once they settle into their careers, they frequently make reunion-year gifts to Cal.
Every reunion gift is appreciated, but some stand out for the generosity of the donor and the reasons behind the giving. In the cases of Tom Barber ’97 and Rich Chen ’92, M.B.A. ’99, their stories reflect continuing connections with Berkeley — along with their desire to help future Cal students make the most of their years on campus.
Junior college, Berkeley, and beyond
In 1994, Tom Barber (pictured right) applied to Cal as a community college transfer and was accepted for the spring semester. “I didn’t know it at the time,” he says today, “but being accepted to Cal was the most important thing that had ever happened to me.”
The challenge of working with top-notch students and world-class faculty drew the Sacramento native to Berkeley, but equally appealing was the value of the public-school education he received. “My family could not have afforded to send me to a $25,000-a-year institution,” says Barber, who graduated in 1997 with a degree in political science. “Cal gave me access to develop the skills that allow me to do what I do now.”
Today, he is a principal at Black Canyon Capital, a Beverly Hills-based private equity firm. And he’s one of more than 20 Class of ’97 graduates to commit more than $1,000 to their 10-year reunion fundraising campaign. As part of his reunion committee, Barber has also spread the word about the campaign to other alums.
Though he gives back to Cal every year, Barber felt a stronger pull than usual this time. “It was an opportunity to reflect on my time at Cal, how it helped me create the career I’ve got and become the person I am now,” he says. “Cal gave me all the tools I need to succeed, and for that I’ll forever be grateful.”
Public education payback
At age 10, Rich Chen (pictured left) emigrated to Albany, Calif., from Japan. A product of public schools, Chen eventually headed to Berkeley, where he earned two degrees before launching a career as a high-tech executive. Still, he hasn’t forgotten his roots: Earlier this year, he gave back to Cal by making a $20,000 gift to the Haas School of Business.
“At the very least I felt I could give back, having gone through public schools here in California,” says Chen, who received an undergraduate degree in political economy of industrial societies in 1992 and an M.B.A. from Haas seven years later. “It was high time I put back into the system rather than take out of it.”
Haas helped propel Chen into the high-tech world, where he worked for three years at a Japanese startup before returning to the U.S. in 2002. Back in the Bay Area, he joined Google, generating partnerships between the search-engine giant and companies overseas. Chen has since left Google to spend a “breather year” as a stay-at-home dad caring for his children.
His generous gift to Berkeley coincided with his undergraduate class’s 15-year class reunion, giving a tremendous boost to the class’s giving levels. Chen’s connection to Cal is deepening further — he just started his first term as a UC Berkeley Foundation trustee. “Apart from the financial side, I can also contribute my brain power back into the system,” he says.
