Members of the USC Good Neighbors Campaign President’s Leadership Circle were welcomed to the residence of USC President C. L. Max Nikias and Mrs. Niki C. Nikias for a celebratory dinner on September 24, 2013. The Good Neighbors Campaign, currently in its 19th year, is a unique employee giving program that supports community-based partnership activities throughout the neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Science campuses. The campaign has raised more than $16 million dollars over the years—all 100% earmarked for community program support.
The Leadership Circle is comprised of top employee contributors, all of whom have donated 1% (or more) of their annual salary to the campaign. For the 2012-2013 Good Neighbors campaign year, more than 500 employees in this echelon contributed $680,000 toward the final total of $1.6 million.
The evening included a welcome and remarks from President Nikias, greetings from Marth Escutia, vice president of government relations, and a heartfelt first person account from Tristan Baizar, a first-year USC student who is a graduate of the rigorous Neighborhood Academy Initiative (NAI) college prep program.
“I don’t believe I would be standing before you tonight as a proud new Trojan if it wasn’t for NAI and wonderful folks like you who donate to programs you believe in,” said Baizar.
The evening concluded with a special performance by the Latin grammy-nominated group Tres Ellas, featuring USC Thornton School of Music alumna Suemy Gonzales.
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