The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation is an independent, non-profit Foundation originally established in September 1977, for the purpose of supporting basic scientific research, primarily in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry and medicine. Dr. and Mrs. Beckman provided funds for the Foundation mainly in the form of shares of common stock in Beckman Instruments, Inc. Their original intent was to dispose of all assets of the Foundation during their lifetimes.
Following Mrs. Beckman's death in June 1989, Dr. Beckman decided to change the nature of the Foundation from one with a limited life span to a Foundation in perpetuity. The Mission of the Foundation thus became that of "preserving and enhancing the capital assets and distributing only revenue to support leading-edge research in the fields of chemistry and the life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that open up new avenues of research and application in these disciplines and related sciences."
Considered one of the greatest philanthropists of all times, Dr. and Mrs. Beckman through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, have contributed approximately $450 million to the advancement of research and education. Their gifts have benefited a number of scientific and medical institutions throughout the United States.
Since 1991, the Beckman Foundation has awarded 196 Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) awards totaling forty-one million dollars to young scientists who are conducting their research programs at prominent universities and research institutes across the nation.
In 1997, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation initiated the Beckman Scholars Program which recognizes outstanding undergraduate students in chemistry and biological sciences research at select universities throughout the United States. Four hundred and twelve students at sixty-one universities received the awards to date.
Dr. Beckman strongly believes that education in the sciences is extremely important at all levels, beginning at the tender age of three or four. "Particularly, I'd like to get young kids interested in science; the young mind is inquisitive enough that you don't have to worry about scaring up enthusiasm, you simply need to keep them interested and excited about science." Responding to Dr. Beckman's direction, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has initiated programs that will help to fulfill his wishes.
Beginning in the fall of 1998, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation will initiate a K-6 Science Education Initiative, entitled Beckman@Science, for elementary children in Orange County. Over the next five years, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, on behalf of Dr. and Mrs. Beckman, will spend approximately $14.5 million on a science education program that will capture children's natural curiosity and stimulate their interest in science through hands-on, inquiry based science learning experiences.
In 1998, the Beckman Research Technologies Initiative was announced. The initiative supports the development of new research technologies, directed at leading edge scientific fields of study, that have similar potential for creating new approaches to the solution of basic research questions. In 1999, two five-year awards, totaling five million dollars, were made.
In addition, the Foundation provides ongoing research support to five Beckman Institutes and Centers. These institutes and centers are located at the California Institute of Technology; the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; City of Hope Hospital and Medical Center; Stanford University and Beckman Laser Institute.
k.williams@beckman-foundation.com
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