'Big Bang Theory' Producers Presents Three Scholarships to UCLA
BURBANK, Calif. — After creating the first-ever university scholarship endowment — The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment at UCLA — named after a television series four years ago, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation (TCLFF) has announced that in honor of the show’s final season, it has doubled down on its support of The Big Bang Theory endowment for undergraduate scholars in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Established in 2015, the Endowment initially provided for five annual scholarships, in perpetuity, for students in financial need. It was originally funded via a founding donation by TCLFF combined with gifts from more than 50 individuals associated with the series — including the show’s stars, executive producers, writers and crew — plus partners such as Warner Bros. Television, CBS, ICM Partners, United Talent Agency and more. With renewed donations to celebrate the end of the series, more than 80 individuals have made contributions to date, allowing for The Big Bang Theory scholarship to now fund 10 scholars each year in perpetuity. The Endowment currently supports 35 TBBT scholars and has raised more than $5.5 million for UCLA students in financial need studying in STEM fields.
Dell Technologies, a longtime supporter of advancing science and technology skills, has also made a donation to the undergraduate Endowment and will be gifting the first graduating class of TBBT/UCLA scholars with new Alienware m15 laptops at a special celebration on The Big Bang Theory set with the producers, cast and crew.
Additionally, TCLFF has announced the establishment of The Big Bang Theory Graduate School Fund. This fund will provide four-year scholarships of up to $15,000 per year exclusively for graduating TBBT/UCLA scholars who will be continuing their STEM education in graduate school within the University of California system. TBBT/UCLA graduating scholars who will be pursuing their graduate studies outside of the UC system will be eligible for a one-time grant of $15,000.