IGS Donor Steps in to Help Berkeley Hopeful

Bill Brandt, a member of the IGS National Advisory Council and a major benefactor of the Institute, has expanded his contributions to Cal to include a four-year scholarship for a prospective student recently profiled in the New York Times.

Brandt agreed to create a $20,000-a-year, four-year scholarship for Brennan Jackson, whose family lacked the resources to send him to Cal. Jackson, who is from Southern California, plans to enter Cal in the fall.

Last month, the New York Times published an account of Jackson’s efforts to piece together scholarship support from multiple sources to pay for his college education. But those efforts had been unsuccessful so far, leading to Brandt’s decision to provide a scholarship.

“When it comes right down to it, all the world has is the next generation, and I’m happy to help,” said Brandt.

The morning the story appeared in the Times, IGS Director Jack Citrin, who was attempting to arrange financial support for Jackson through the Institute, happened to be in contact with Brandt about other IGS Board matters. After Citrin made Brandt aware of the situation, Brandt agreed to step in and provide the financial support Jackson, an A-student who ranks near the top of his high school class, would need to attend Cal.

“Berkeley seeks to give access to excellence, so we wanted to make it possible for someone outstanding to go to his top choice,” Citrin said. “Bill Brandt made it happen.”

The scholarship for Jackson is very much in line with Brandt’s continuing efforts to provide support for Berkeley students. He recently completed a five-year, $250,000 commitment to IGS in just three years. The bulk of his contributions to date have gone to support research grants for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Brandt is President and CEO of Development Specialists, Inc., one of the nation's leading firms specializing in the provision of management, consulting and turnaround assistance to troubled or reorganizing enterprises. Widely acknowledged as one of the foremost practitioners in the field of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy and related public policy issues, his firm maintains offices in both San Francisco and Los Angeles , among many other cities. Brandt joined the IGS National Advisory Council in May 2006.

Brandt also currently serves as the Chair of the Illinois Finance Authority, following appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Illinois Senate. This organization is one of the nation's largest State-sponsored entities principally engaged in economic development and job creation through the issuance of both taxable and tax-exempt bonds for businesses, non-profit organizations and local governmental units.

Original Times piece on Brennan Jackson:
Goal Is College. Hurdle Is Finding Financial Aid.

NY Times coverage of Bill Brandt's donation:
California Student Finds Benefactor to Help Him Pay for College

Posting on the Times education blog, The Choice:
Brennan’s Quest Ends in Success