Irvine Unified School District Receives $2 Million Contribution

IRVINE, CA — The Irvine Unified School District received some much-needed funding to help support its arts, music and science education program thanks to a $2 million donation Monday from the Irvine Company.

The donation is part of the company's 20-year, $45 million commitment to the school district through its Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund, Irvine Unified officials said in a statement. The fund was established in 2006 and provides art, music and science programs for students in fourth through sixth grades.

The latest $2 million from the Irvine Company was presented Monday during IUSD's annual Donald Bren Honors Concert, the district said.

Jeff Davis, the Irvine Company's vice president, said education has "always been at the core of our planning efforts in Irvine."

"[Monday's] contribution continues our company's decades-long partnership with IUSD, students and families to support enrichment programs in science, art and music," he said.

Irvine Unified Superintendent Terry Walker said the money from the Irvine Company has allowed the district's arts education program to flourish.

"[The annual Donald Bren Honors Concert] is a demonstration of this commitment," Walker said. "A commitment that has resulted in IUSD being named one of the nation’s best communities for music education by the [National Association of Music Merchants] Foundation for nine consecutive years."