Central OC Times

A substantial donation from Alec Glasser, a philanthropist and businessman, will enable the University of California, Irvine's School of Social Ecology to fully endow the Center for the Power of Music and Social Change. This contribution is set to ensure that the center continues its work in impacting lives positively for future generations.

“This gift, the largest ever to the school, is truly transformative, building on the science of music to establish a platform at UC Irvine that will inspire people locally and globally,” stated Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Mr. Glasser’s bold generosity will create a significant and lasting legacy.”

Glasser's interest in music aligns with UC Irvine’s mission. He believes in music's potential to foster social change by uniting people across cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic divides. “It’s a unifying force that can inspire real change – empowering communities, raising awareness, healing wounds and advancing education,” Glasser remarked.

Jon Gould, dean of UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology, emphasized that Glasser's donation would support groundbreaking innovation. “We are aligned in our pursuit of solutions for the world’s most pressing problems,” he said.

The center will be led by Richard Matthew, professor of urban planning and public policy. He highlighted music as an art form with numerous benefits: “Science is clearly demonstrating that engagement with music has tremendous value for health, neurological development... bringing people together around causes like social justice.”

The center aims to utilize music's power through research, education, and community engagement. Faculty members from various disciplines are involved in studying how music contributes to personal development and societal well-being.

“Research is evolving quickly," Matthew explained. "We are excited about leveraging the power of music... finding ways of improving mental and physical health... promoting a sustainable world."

Glasser owns The Drake restaurant in Laguna Beach and has a background in law and real estate investment. In 2021 he founded The Drake Gives nonprofit organization focused on providing underserved youth with access to music education.

UC Irvine launched its Brilliant Future campaign on October 4th, 2019 aiming to engage alumni and raise $2 billion for student success among other goals.

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is recognized as one of America’s top public universities according to U.S News & World Report rankings.

For more information on UC Irvine visit their website or access media resources provided online.