Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship Launches $10 Million Endowment Fund for its Global Social Benefit Fellowship
An Open House May 25 will showcase GSBF-supported student action
research projects
SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Socent—Miller
Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University has
launched a $10 million endowment fund for its five-year-old Global
Social Benefit Fellowship (GSBF) program. The GSBF fully funds
travel, classes, and post-trip coursework for up to 20 students a year
to conduct hands-on research at social enterprises that have been
through Miller Center’s programs worldwide. This field-based, action
research helps the enterprises benefit exponentially more people, and
the fellowship program already has helped three students earn Fulbright
scholarships.
On May 25, 2016, the GSBF program will hold its annual “Research with a
Mission” Open
House, where current and last year’s fellowship students will
present the research field projects they will conduct as part of their
yearlong fellowship program. This year’s projects include interviewing
rural African women about the uses of solar energy products; evaluating
clean water technologies and supportive business models in Central
America; assessing the health and social impact of artisan social
enterprises on women and children; and documenting and analyzing
theories of positive social change for women and girls in Africa who are
selling locally produced women’s sanitary pads.
“I see Miller Center as one of the crown jewels of Santa Clara
University, and the GSBF as a crown jewel of Miller Center,” said Tim
Haley, member of the Santa Clara University board of trustees and
provider, along with his wife, Ethna McGourty, of the initial GSBF
endowment donation. “The GSBF puts into action Santa Clara University’s
mission of educating the whole person within the Jesuit, Catholic
tradition. GSB Fellows enter the workforce well-equipped to contribute
to any field of endeavor, having gained a global perspective and a sense
of contributing to social good.”
“The GSBF expresses the Miller Center and Santa Clara University
philosophy of integrating practical action to serve the poor and protect
the planet with the formation of future leaders,” said Thane Kreiner,
Ph.D., executive director, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.
“The $10 million endowment, initiated with the generous $1 million
initial gift, will ensure that the GSBF program can continue in
perpetuity to provide transformative social justice learning experiences
for future SCU students and the social enterprises they serve.”
GSBF Unites Education and Social Benefit Goals
The Global
Social Benefit Fellowship provides SCU college juniors and seniors
with a comprehensive program of mentored, field-based study and action
research within Miller Center’s Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI®)
worldwide network of social entrepreneurs. The fellowship combines a
fully funded eight-week summer international field experience with
social enterprises in the developing world with two quarters of
coursework.
The GSBF is a program of practical social justice in the Jesuit
educational tradition. Unlike community-based service learning projects
or internships, the GSBF’s work with social enterprises is a dynamic
process that takes full advantage of two of the most important assets
universities have to offer: research and critical thinking.
“I learned that social entrepreneurs often succeed where other
businesses cannot, not only because of their innovative business models
and passionate teams, but also because of their understanding of local
cultures,” said Alex Cabral, a recent GSBF action research fellow. “The
fellowship enabled me to demonstrate to future employers that I not only
have a wide variety of skills, but that I am passionate about topics
that fall outside the Silicon Valley ‘bubble.’”
About Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Founded in 1997, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship is one of
three Centers of Distinction at Santa Clara University. Miller Center
accelerates global, innovation-based entrepreneurship in service to
humanity. Its strategic focus is on poverty eradication through its
three areas of work: The Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI), Impact
Capital, and Education and Action Research. To learn more about the
Center or any of its social entrepreneurship programs, visit www.scu.edu/MillerCenter.
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university
located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley,
offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in
arts and sciences, business and engineering; master’s degrees in
business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry and
theology; and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished
nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S.
master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education
institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social
justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
©2016. GSBI is a registered trademark of Santa Clara University. All
rights reserved.
Contacts
SCU Media Relations
Deborah Lohse, +1-408-554-5121
dlohse@scu.edu
or
Martell
Communications for Miller Center
Colleen Martell, +1-408-832-0147
cmartell@martellpr.com
