Amid festive Trojan fanfare, USC faculty, staff and friends gathered on the university's Health Sciences campus on January 30 to celebrate the W. M. Keck Foundation's recent, transformative $150 million naming gift. The donation serves as the lead gift for the Keck Medicine Initiative, which was announced by USC President C. L. Max Nikias at the event on the Harry and Celesta Pappas Quad.

The Keck Medicine Initiative is among the most critical priorities of the Campaign for the University of Southern California and aims to raise $1.5 billion--25 percent of the overall campaign goal. The initiative focuses on four priorities within USC's academic medical enterprise: advancing research, enriching medical education, enhancing patient care, and strengthening infrastructure.

"With this historic gift, the Keck Foundation has helped create a firm foundation for the future of this school and for our medical enterprise, has given us the momentum to launch the Keck Medicine Initiative, and has given us the confidence to move boldly in the direction of our destiny. Today medicine truly has a new name: Keck Medicine of USC," said Nikias, who presented Robert Day, chair and CEO of the W. M. Keck Foundation with framed, full-page copies of the advertisement published in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal announcing the historic gift. The Keck Foundation gift, announced in June, is accelerating USC's groundbreaking medical, clinical and translational research, and education efforts.

"We think that USC is moving in the right direction as it builds a great medical research institution," said Day. "We're very proud as a family to be involved and we're very proud as a foundation."

USC's partnership with the Keck Foundation dates back many decades. With the gift, the W. M. Keck Foundation and members of the extended Keck family have donated nearly $300 million to USC, placing them among the university's most generous and visionary benefactors. In recognition of the Keck Foundation gift, USC's academic medical enterprise was named Keck Medicine of USC in perpetuity. It comprises the Keck School of Medicine and the Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital and USC's faculty physician practice.

At the celebratory event, USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Elizabeth Garrett, said, "As our new Strategic Vision calls the entire university community to action, so that our deeds do in fact meet our ambitions, the Keck Foundation has provided USC's medical initiatives the solid foundation to accelerate breakthroughs in thought and research that improve society by improving our quality of life."

Garrett introduced Edward P. Roski, chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, who described the impact of the recent Keck Foundation gift. "This gift will be a catalyst for new ideas, new innovations and new cures. It will support the doctors and the researchers who have dedicated themselves to discovery. And it will enhance the quality of care we provide to our patients and their families."

During the presentation, Nikias, Garrett, Roski and Day were presented with Keck Medical Center of USC lab coats by Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center residents.

Keck School of Medicine Dean Carmen A. Puliafito welcomed guests at a luncheon following the presentation. "This gift will help us continue to attract world-class physicians and scientists who are making extraordinary advances against a full range of diseases," he said. "The Keck Foundation gift that we celebrate here today will make a significant difference for everyone on this campus: the students, researchers, physicians and nurses and, of course, the patients we serve."

Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for USC Health Tom Jackiewicz commented on the Keck Foundation gift's impact on the Keck Medical Center of USC. "It will come as no surprise to all of you that there is real passion here. Our patients experience quality care and compassion at both our Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and we want to be even better. We are dedicated to fulfilling the vision of improving human health, not only here in Southern California, but also around the world. We are grateful for the support of the W.M. Keck Foundation to help make that vision a reality."

At the close of the luncheon, Nikias commented on his intentions for the campaign and the Keck Medicine Initiative, saying, "To succeed, we will need every individual to join us in this collective effort -- the doctors and the researchers, the satisfied patients and grateful families, our alumni and our loyal supporters. Together, we will not only rewrite the history of this school, we will also reshape the future of medicine."

He presented Day with a painting to commemorate the Keck Foundation's transformative gift.