The de Groszs, who have six season tickets to men’s basketLike Mr. de Grosz, Mr. Sandler harbors no resentment toward ball in addition to their six seats to football through the Endow- any perception that Cal is seeking out-of-state dollars to help ment Seating Program, are just as excited for the next season of fund its mission. “First,” Richard said, “you have an obligation Bears basketball in Haas Pavilion as they are for the fall football to the state and your other constituencies to maintain excelseason under new head coach Sonny Dykes. “Mike Montgom- lence; second, you’re not going to maintain excellence unless ery had an excellent recruiting class,” said Fred. “Jabari Bird is you can fund what you need to fund, because the state’s not a sensational young man. Similar to football, they’ve got some going to fund it anymore. The vast majority of students are still very talented young guys.” from the state of California.” The de Grosz family has shown Mr. Sandler expressed fondunwavering support for Cal Athness for the notion that a rising letics, and although success is tide raises all ships and its appli“A strong UC system, most easily defined by wins and cability to the world-class excelespecially a strong Berkeley, is absolutely losses, Mr. de Grosz does not inlence of the University: “The tocritical for the futend to fold up his tent when the tality of that excellence includes ture of California. I’m next wave of adversity washes people from in the state, out proud that we have a over the campus community. of state and out of the country, school like Berkeley. The name, throughout “Cal fans know that our devotion both among the students and the world, is recogcomes with a lot of excitement within the faculty,” he said. “It’s nized as a bastion of and a lot of anticipation, and hisa balance.” excellence.” torically, yes, there’s also been disAmong the balances that Mr. - Fred de Grosz appointment,” he said. “It’s part Sandler maintains is his exciteof being a Bear – we are not to be ment for the football program deterred.” under Dykes, whom he called When Richard and Ellen San“very knowledgeable, very expe“Athletics is a very dler became Builders of Berkeley rienced and someone who thinks important part of the is December of 2006, it marked an well on his feet.” Even more excitstudent experience and the alumni experience. It important milestone, the road to ing to Mr. Sandler is the balance brings people to the which had been paved with supthat student-athletes successUniversity. It creates port not just to the Department of fully strike to achieve in their pride and it gives the Intercollegiate Athletics, but also athletic endeavors and academic opportunity to those who are participating in to the Haas School of Business pursuits. While he admires their athletics to learn about and the Chancellor’s Discretiondegrees across the board, he is time management, teamary Fund, among other areas. particularly awed by those who work, discipline and a In fact, according to Mr. manage to gain admittance to the lot of other areas.” - Richard Sandler Sandler, another California naHaas School of Business amidst tive who received his BS in busitheir rigorous commitments to ness administration cum laude in their teams. 1970, Intercollegiate Athletics was not the gateway through “It’s a big deal for any of the athletes to get a degree from Cal which the Sandlers’ support for Cal got started, nor was hav- in any area,” Mr. Sandler said. “Whether they get a degree in ing their names etched in stone among fellow seven-figure do- business or economics, engineering or the social sciences, it’s nors an impetus for their giving. “We’re proud to be designated impressive.” Builders of Berkeley and receive that recognition, but that was That achievement is at the heart of the Sandlers’ not the reason,” Richard said. support for the University. “Cal is much more important to “If you look at the list, we all share a commitment to a world- me as an outstanding academic institution than as an athletic class University that has benefitted us and we’re all very for- institution,” Richard said. “I believe it benefits everybody if tunate that we’re in a position to try to help sustain that excel- you can achieve in both areas, and it’s a real tribute to our lence so that others can benefit the same way we did.” student-athletes when they become true students and succeed. Obviously, a seven-figure commitment is not required to Athletics is a very important part of the student experience and support Cal Athletics or any other area of the University. The the alumni experience. It brings people to the University. It crelevel sustainable in each individual’s case is the core principle ates pride and it gives the opportunity to those who are particiin a culture of giving, and Mr. Sandler has seen the hallmarks of pating in athletics to learn about time management, teamwork, that culture in the Office of Athletic Development and through- discipline and a lot of other areas, so I consider athletics out the University. important for a number of reasons.” “Looking at the giving numbers the last 10 to 15 years, how As we conclude our series of articles to celebrate the Buildthey’ve grown and how they compare to both public and pri- ers of Berkeley, everyone in Intercollegiate Athletics continues vate universities, clearly the University and the community forward with gratitude and inspiration from supporters in all have done an outstanding job of overcoming that perception areas of campus life, with particular appreciation for those that the state owes us something,” Mr. Sandler said. “The idea who have identified the student-athlete experience and its of giving back and maintaining excellence has been well com- power to raise spirits and activate the entire community to municated, both to alums and non-alums.” keep our University’s excellence intact and evolving. fall 2013
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