On April 16, the Campaign National Tour closed out it’s ninth event with an evening in San Francisco, Calif. Biola University President Barry H. Corey was joined by local alumni, parents and friends to learn more about “A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage: The Campaign for Biola University,” the $180 million comprehensive fundraising campaign to raise support for student scholarships, facilities, academic -centers and online learning.

Approximately 50 guests attended the event, hosted at the Presidio Officer’s Club. Rob Bredow (’94), a Biola alumnus and current Head of ILMxLAB and Vice President of the Advanced Development Group for Lucasfilm, was the keynote speaker. Bredow shared different films he has had the chance to work on which included the latest Star Wars film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Bredow credits Biola with providing a solid biblical foundation which has guided him throughout his career.

“Biola helped me get my bearings in my faith and allowed me to learn what it means to have an influence in my industry,” said Bredow. “As Christians, our greatest influence isn’t when we are trying to convince people to join our camp or shove a Christian worldview into a film but when we are genuinely loving and serving them and seeking their success. When we try to love the people around us like Christ, that’s when we have the greatest influence.”

He also emphasized the value of institutions like Biola in training competent men and women in a wide variety of career fields to be able to do good work.

“Our workplace is about influencing others towards Christ, but it is also part of our own stories and part of Jesus’s redemptive plan — the work itself has redemptive value in our world,” he said.

President Barry H. Corey then briefly introduced guests to the details of the comprehensive fundraising campaign, including the focus on both student affordability and the new Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health.

“This is the most ambitious campaign in Biola’s history, with our goal of $180 million, which is nearly 10 times larger than our previous largest fundraising campaign,” said Corey. “But this campaign is not just about bricks and mortar, but about putting Biola into a better position to carry on it's important task of raising up the next generation of Christian leaders in key spheres of society.”

At the event, Corey also shared the exciting news that The Campaign for Biola University had just crossed the $170 million mark toward the campaign goal.

“We are seeing a lot of momentum, and we are on a good track to reach the finish line,” Corey said.

After learning about the campaign, guests were invited to support The Campaign for Biola University. Thanks to the generosity of guests in attendance and a $20,000 challenge gift from the Christian Community Credit Union, provider of the Biola Visa credit card, more than $48,000 was given that night at the event in support of Biola’s bold vision for the future. To date, the Campaign National Tour has raised more than $600,000 from events and subsequent gifts by attendees.

For the fall Campaign National Tour schedule, visit the the website.

Written by Cambria Aviles. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.