The Nazarian Family Donates $17 Million to California State University

The family of Younes Nazarian, an Iranian immigrant residing in California, has donated $17 million to the California State University’s Center for the Performing Arts. The Los Angeles Daily News reported this news citing university officials, stating that the name of this performing arts center may soon change in gratitude for this significant financial contribution to Younes and Soraya Nazarian, and it may be abbreviated to the Soraya Arts Center. Officials at the arts center said in a statement released on Tuesday: 'Younes and Soraya Nazarian are making a very impactful and historic contribution to the enlightening field of art and investing in artists who will inspire us all. Our arts center has never received such generous funding before.' This center, which has a capacity of 1,700, opened in 2011 and has since become one of the important performing arts venues in California, hosting music and dance programs. In addition to local artists, works from artists and artistic groups from around the world are showcased here. The director of this center stated: 'This donation presents a unique opportunity for us to expand and enhance our activities.' The Nazarian family has long been among the financial supporters of California State University, contributing in various forms to this educational institution. Younes Nazarian is a businessman and investor in various fields, including renewable energy, real estate construction, and financial enterprises. His wife, Soraya, is a well-known sculptor and stone carver who has her own gallery in Los Angeles. Their son, David, is a California State University graduate and now a successful innovative investor who donated $10 million to the university a few years ago. The university's School of Business and Economics is named after him. The Los Angeles Times also published this news, detailing the life and background of Mr. Nazarian and his family. According to this newspaper, Younes Nazarian, who is from the Iranian Jewish minority, started working at a very young age repairing and replacing light bulbs in neighborhoods and markets in Tehran, and gradually improved his financial situation, establishing factories for construction machinery. However, with the events leading to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Nazarian family felt threatened and moved to the United States. Mr. Nazarian restarted his economic activities in California, focusing on expanding his business and generating income. Now 86 years old, Younes Nazarian says: 'After coming to America, I had to rebuild everything. I had done this once before.' The director of the California State University Performing Arts Center said that this donation from an immigrant family shows how much California's racial and cultural fabric has changed. He hopes that this center can adapt to this change by organizing art exhibitions from around the world and various cultures. The Los Angeles Times adds that the Nazarian family had previously donated to various art centers in California, including the California Philharmonic Orchestra and the Skirball Cultural Center. The California State University Performing Arts Center is the most important venue for international artistic programs, often inviting foreign artists, and thus holds a special place at the state level.