Denny Sanford gives UCSD $100M for landmark studies of empathy, compassion

La Jolla billionaire Denny Sanford’s quest to improve the human condition through large, targeted donations has produced another windfall for UC San Diego, which will receive $100 million to study empathy and compassion and to cultivate those qualities in physicians.

The gift is among the largest of its kind ever made in the U.S. and involves an area of science that’s only recently acquired the tools to explore the matter deeply.

Sanford also gave UCSD $100 million in 2013 to create a center where researchers are trying to speed the process of turning discoveries into new drugs and therapies. And he gave San Diego’s National University System $100 million last year to teach civility and thoughtfulness to children in hopes of curbing violence, bullying and discrimination.

San Diego-based institutions have received at least $459 million in donations over the past 12 years from the 83 year-old Sanford, who says he plans to give away all of his money before he dies. Forbes estimates his wealth at $2.6 billion.

Read more: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2019-07-23/denny-sanford-gives-uc-san-diego-100m-for-unprecedented-study-of-compassion