The University of La Verne has received an unprecedented gift of $10 million from board member Anthony “Tony” LaFetra – the largest cash gift in the University’s 124-year history.

The gift establishes the LaFetra College of Education, adding the University of La Verne to a very small list of named colleges of education, and one of the few at a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

This gift is most timely as it comes on the brink of the University’s 125th Anniversary celebrations.

Anthony LaFetra is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, and President and CEO of his family-founded business, The Rain Bird Corporation. The family has multigenerational ties to the University of La Verne, where his mother served on the Board of Trustees from 1966 to 1982, and his sister, Sarah Ludwick, is an alumna.

“I know that education transforms lives.

My parents, Clem and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” LaFetra, believed strongly in the power of education and in the University of La Verne. My mother served on its Board of Trustees for 16 years,” LaFetra said. “They imparted their passion for education to me, so I dedicate my gift to their legacy of giving, knowing we can impact generations of future teachers and students.”

College of Education

The University’s College of Education (currently known as the College of Education and Organizational Leadership) already holds the distinction of having awarded approximately 30 percent of California’s superintendents with doctorates.

More than 280 school districts across Inland Southern California are partnered with the College, enabling teaching candidates to have direct experience in the classroom and secure employment when they graduate.

In the area of education, the university grants bachelor’s degrees in child development and educational studies; teaching credentials; master’s degrees in areas such as child development, special education, and educational counseling; and doctoral degrees in organizational leadership.

“This transformational gift pays tribute to the tremendous impact the University of La Verne’s programs have on the nation’s educational leaders and the students they serve,” said University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman. “Our appreciation of the LaFetra family is unmeasurable.”

The gift will fund several new initiatives, including:

• Scholarships for high-achieving undergraduate students with financial need, enabling students to stay in school and graduate in a shorter time;

• Faculty training on cultural competence and technology;

• Enhancement of the LaFetra Family Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching and Service to attract a nationally-recognized leader in teacher education for the position;

• Learning centers to support autistic and other special-needs children, as well as their families;

• An Intercultural and Multicultural Education Center for leadership, research, global learning, and exchange programs; and,

• A counseling and bilingual education initiative focused on children and families of migrant workers.

– Submitted by University of La Verne