California State University, Northridge

January 15, 1997

Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler,
(818) 677-2130
cchandler@exec.csun.edu

Comedy Writer Donates $10,000 to Jewish Studies

The gift enables the Jewish Studies Program to develop new courses, hire instructors and enrich existing programs.

"Students are always so impressed and highly gratified that private individuals, like the Rosses, care so much about their education," said Jody Myers, coordinator of the program. "Such gifts teach students to value their opportunity to learn."

The Rosses, who live in west Los Angeles, have donated a total of $75,000 to the Jewish Studies Program over the past couple of years. Their initial gifts in 1992 provided the funds to establish a course on Yiddish literature.

Myers said small and large donations to the Jewish Studies Program have enabled its faculty to develop a number of new offerings at a time when a tight budget normally limits innovation.

Over the past few years, Jewish Studies has developed new general education courses in women's studies, a 3-unit internship opportunity in the Jewish community and a new course in contemporary Jewish expression.

Mickey Ross has written for such television shows as "The Jeffersons," "All in the Family," and "Three's Company."