Nicole Bigley
It started with a desire to give back and a conversation in a valet line. More than a decade later, that encounter has become one of the most significant philanthropic partnerships in Chapman University’s history.
President Matt Parlow and Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Jessica Berger announced a transformative $25.5 million commitment from philanthropist Christine Cross during the State of the University Address on Feb. 27, 2026. The commitment brings Christine’s total philanthropic investment in Chapman to more than $35.5 million.
The commitment provides an additional $20 million for the Christine E. Cross Endowed Scholarship and $5.5 million from The Lloyd & Elisabeth Klein Legacy Foundation to endow Chapman’s summer music programs. Together, these commitments will expand educational access and artistic opportunities for generations of students.
“Christine’s generosity is going to help hundreds of students, and the impact will reverberate throughout Orange County and far beyond as students graduate and become leaders in their careers and communities,” said President Matt Parlow. “Her support of Chapman is a great example of putting shared values to work to benefit students.”
A Partnership Born from Serendipity
Christine’s relationship with Chapman began in 2013, when Christine Cross’s financial advisor suggested the university as a philanthropic partner. She visited campus and was impressed. What happened next was pure serendipity.
While waiting in a valet line, President Emeritus Jim Doti overheard a woman behind him mention that her son teaches bowl turning, a woodworking craft he’d longed to learn. Doti turned around and asked if her son could teach him the art. He could, and he did. That woman was Christine Cross.
That chance encounter sparked a friendship that led to Christine’s initial $10 million commitment in 2013. Since then, her commitment to Chapman has deepened through personal relationships with students, faculty, and university leadership.
“Christine’s dedication to our students and her genuine passion for education are deeply moving,” said Jessica Berger, Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer. “She cares about opening doors for young people and ensuring that talent, not financial circumstance, determines who gets to pursue their dreams. This $35.5 million commitment reflects the kind of transformative partnership that changes a university and the lives of countless students.”
Removing Barriers Through Scholarship
The $30 million scholarship endowment reflects Christine’s deep desire to help students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college. Her approach to supporting students extends far beyond financial assistance.
I want to help highly motivated young people with financial need who deserve every opportunity to achieve their dreams,” Christine said. “Education changes lives, not just through what you learn in the classroom, but through the relationships you build, the confidence you gain, and the doors that open. If I can remove financial barriers and provide support along the way, I consider that one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
Through her family’s foundation, Christine and her husband Lon have provided many students full-ride scholarships for more than a decade, covering their education from undergraduate studies through graduate degrees. But her involvement is profoundly personal. She considers herself a lifelong mentor and champion to her scholars, mentoring them in everything from professional etiquette and formal dining to career preparation and life skills.
Fiona Bumgarner ’26, studying graphic design, is one of the Chapman students Christine has supported. Beyond providing scholarship funding that allowed Fiona to quit two of her three jobs, Christine has been a hands-on mentor, helping Fiona find housing during midterms and teaching her everything from homecooked recipes to interview preparation. “I think the most significant lesson I’ve learned from her is that as much as being self-made is important and impressive, it is impossible to get where we are without help.” Fiona shared. “She’s taught me that if you are able, you should help others because that help compounds and leaves a generational impact.”
Honoring Family Legacy Through the Arts
The $5.5 million gift creating The Lloyd & Elisabeth Klein Legacy Music Camps Endowment honors Christine’s parents and their lifelong dedication to philanthropy, education, and the arts. The endowment will permanently support Chapman’s summer music programs at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music which will be known as The Lloyd & Elisabeth Klein Legacy Music Camps.
“My mother was a painter and my parents believed deeply that the arts enrich our humanity and strengthen our communities,” Cross said. “This commitment honors their memory and ensures their values live on through young musicians who will carry forward that same passion and dedication.”
Through The Lloyd & Elisabeth Klein Legacy Foundation, the Cross family has long supported Chapman’s summer music camps, which serve high school students. The week-long residential programs include an Instrumental Music Camp and a Vocal Music Camp, both led by world-class faculty from the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music.
The endowment will ensure the programs’ long-term sustainability and expand access through increased financial assistance for talented students.
Investing in Potential, Creating Legacy
Christine’s $35.5 million commitment represents more than financial support. It’s a belief in the power of education and a testament to what’s possible when philanthropy is guided by genuine relationships and care. As future generations of Chapman students benefit from these scholarships and summer music programs, they will carry forward the values Christine has championed: that education transforms lives, that talent deserves opportunity, and that helping others creates a legacy that truly compounds.
