From Media-Newswire: “With the goal of sparking discoveries in medicine, the environment and sustainable energy, UC Irvine is launching a $1 billion fundraising effort. The effort aims to foster economic and cultural opportunities and produce a new generation of leaders who will drive growth and development in California…’the challenges we face in the world today have not overwhelmed hope, and solutions can be found. That's what great universities do,’ said Chancellor Michael V. Drake, M.D. as he announced the initiative that will raise $1 billion by 2015. The announcement kicks off the public phase of the campaign. The quiet phase, which took place during the past three years, has generated more than $405 million of the $1 billion goal.”