Gary JD ’64 & Sue Giannini establish a scholarship for students from Catholic universities pursuing a law degree.
Santa Clara University School of Law graduate, long time local practitioner and San Jose resident, Gary Giannini JD ’64 and his wife Sue, recently established the Gary V. and Susan M. Giannini Law Scholarship Fund to improve access and affordability to Santa Clara Law for students from Catholic colleges and universities.
Raised in nearby San Jose, and a graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory, Gary spoke about the profound impact his upbringing and exposure to Jesuit education had in wanting to make this gift. Although his family was of modest means, his parents were incredibly active volunteers at his grammar school, high school, parish and in their local community. “They instilled in me the importance of giving back to one’s community, and so too did my Jesuit and lay teachers at Bellarmine and Santa Clara Law.”
Gary JD ’64 & Sue Giannini
A few years earlier, a lifelong friend, Bob Peters ’61, now deceased, established a similar scholarship for undergraduates at Santa Clara University. In part, looking to establish something similar at the Law School, the Gianninis explained, “We are now in a place in our lives where we can help others in ways in which we were helped with our own education. The Santa Clara community and the Law School in particular, have provided us with so much, from Gary’s career to many of our friends. It truly is a family.”
With affordability and accessibility being two critical areas where Santa Clara Law is seeking to be a leader in the competitive legal education landscape, Dean Michael Kaufman was moved by their gift. “Our Jesuit, Catholic mission calls us to serve others, and the Gianninis are living our mission by making this impactful gift.”
Senior Assistant Dean for External Relations, Steve O’Brien, added “The impact of their gift goes well beyond the financial support it will provide to future law students. By making this gift and remaining so connected to the Law School, the Gianninis are offering a powerful example that will inspire others to give, and they are demonstrating just how rewarding a lifelong relationship with Santa Clara can be.”
To learn more about supporting scholarship opportunities at Santa Clara Law, contact Ash Farrington, director of development, (408) 554-5496, afarrington@scu.edu.
