Local Philanthropists Establish Scholarship Fund to Advance Racial Justice and Equity at California Western School of Law

Local Philanthropists Establish Scholarship Fund to Advance Racial Justice and Equality

Longtime California Western friends and supporters Elaine Galinson and Herbert Solomon have gifted the law school $50,000 in support of its efforts to attract, reward, and inspire students who are committed to the pursuit of justice and equality. Their generosity will benefit three outstanding students enrolled for the fall 2021 semester.

“It is our intention that the Elaine Galinson and Herbert J. Solomon Scholarships will have a positive, meaningful impact on every student who benefits and will encourage their efforts to expand the reach of racial justice and equality,” Galinson and Solomon said in a joint statement. Their gift was made through the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego’s Joseph Glickman Donor Advised Fund, named for Elaine Galinson’s father.

These scholarships for newly admitted students are the first of their kind at California Western and make a prominent statement about the law school’s commitment not only to legal education opportunities for African American and other underrepresented students, but also its dedication to applying legal education and scholarship in the ongoing struggle to dismantle racial injustice in our society.

These scholarships will also aid California Western’s pursuit to achieve racial equality within the legal profession, which entails a robust effort to recruit and retain African American and other underrepresented students who will go on to create a more diverse work force in the San Diego legal community. Such a work force, in turn, will be better attuned to meet the needs of a diverse client base in the service of social and racial justice.

“I hope these scholarships will enable the students who benefit to achieve a potential that they may not have been able to achieve otherwise,” said Solomon, who has served as an adjunct professor at California Western and as a member of the law school’s Council of Visitors.

“It has been a true honor and pleasure getting to know Elaine and Herb and learning that we share the same passion and commitment to advancing racial justice and creating a more diverse legal community,” said California Western President and Dean Sean Scott. “I feel deeply fortunate to have found such kindred spirits in the fight for equality.”

“It is our intention that the Elaine Galinson and Herbert J. Solomon Scholarships will have a positive, meaningful impact on every student who benefits and will encourage their efforts to expand the reach of racial justice and equality,”

Elaine Galison and Herbert Solomon