High-impact philanthropy is frequently hands-on, integrating financial support with gifts of time, talent, and ties. “Since I was young, I was taught to give back by my parents who always had a meal or a sofa for a friend who came upon hard times. When my family was struggling financially, I still had time to give, so I volunteered to better my schools and communities,” said EJ Milken, EMBA ’20, who is manager of EGM Investments, LLC, and a USC Marshall Board of Leaders and Torch Initiative Steering Committee member.
“I am the recipient of a holistic approach to philanthropy,” Milken continued. “It was other people’s mentorship, organizational and professional training, shared knowledge, networking opportunities, scholarship, and general goodwill and charity that helped my family survive in those formative years. I had a front-row seat on how it takes all these elements to make philanthropy work effectively. It has been thrilling, in our initial work of the Torch Initiative, to find like-minded strong men and women who are interested in the same approach.”
Van Eck agrees: “We host a student group in New York every year, which is really rewarding for the students and alumni involved. Since my involvement as a donor, USC has appreciated my input and engagement as much as any monetary contribution I may give,” she said.
“As we celebrate reaching gender parity in the undergraduate program, and most recently in new tenure-track faculty appointments, there’s still much more to do. Our alumni and donor communities should reflect the power of women’s leadership just as clearly,” said MARSHALL DEAN GEOFFREY GARRETT. “I’m thrilled that the Torch Initiative is inviting more women to take their seats at the table as philanthropists, Marshall board members, advisors, and mentors whose shared vision is essential to the future of Marshall.”