A Transformative Gift for USD’s Military-Connected Community
The University of San Diego announced in May of 2025 that longtime supporters Dan and Phyllis Epstein, through the Epstein Family Foundation, have committed $10 million — their largest current gift to the university — to support the new Epstein Family Military Center. The gift is a challenge match aimed at raising an additional $10 million for the center.
The center is dedicated to USD’s military-connected students, including active-duty personnel, veterans, spouses, and dependent children. The center will further students’ educational and career goals and serve as a premier destination for service members, veterans, and their families.
“Our family is honored to support this important initiative, ensuring that military-connected students have the resources they need and deserve. We invite the community to join us in this effort to create pathways of opportunity for those dedicated to lives of service and leadership. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for students today and for future generations.”
A Legacy of Giving: The Epstein Family’s Longstanding Commitment to USD
Over the last 16 years, Dan Epstein’s philanthropic support has spanned a wide array of areas at USD. Notably, he has supported USD's military-connected students, real estate students and faculty, and the Real Estate Awareness and Diversity Initiative (READI) program. Dan is a member of the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate Policy advisory board.
As announced at the Burnham-Moores Center’s Annual Real Estate Conference in March 2024, the ‘Campaign for Student Success’ to benefit the real estate program students and faculty surpassed its goal, raising $11.8 million. Dan led the way by providing a significant increase in scholarships for military- and veteran-connected students in real estate through a challenge gift. On a one-to-two basis, he matched dollars raised up to $600,000, committing $1,900,000 for military and veteran-connected student scholarships. Since the fund’s inception, 12 students have received $70,000 in scholarship support thanks to the generosity of the Epstein Family Foundation.
The Epstein family’s generous $10 million gift to the center is a call to action, inspiring further generosity from the USD community. The Epstein's will challenge USD to match the $10 million investment by raising at least $2 million each year over the next 5 years. You can help USD meet the challenge by donating today. All support will have a direct and lasting impact on these students and families, who have sacrificed so much for our country.
“We are deeply grateful to the Epstein Family for their generous support in advancing USD’s commitment to our military-connected students. Their leadership in this initiative will create lasting opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families, strengthening our campus and community. To fully realize this vision, we invite our Torero family to join us in meeting this matching challenge—together, we can build a future that honors, supports, and empowers those who have served.”