(San Francisco)–The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation has awarded the University of San Francisco School of Business and Management a grant of $500,000 to help renovate and build a new wing for the existing McLaren Center, current home to the School of Business and Management.

In grateful response to this gift, the University will name the Family Business Resource Center within the new facility the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation Family Business Resource Center (GFBRC). Family-run businesses face unique challenges, and the GFBRC is an important resource that offers them professional help.

"The support from the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation will allow the USF School of Business to expand its outreach services to our bay area communities," said Eugene Muscat, senior associate dean at the University of San Francisco School of Business and Management. "Our mission is simple, to assist existing family-owned firms as they face an increasingly complex business environment. We are very troubled by the national statistics, which indicate that only 10% of family businesses survive for the second generation of management. The GFBRC will be a single source of assistance for this important segment of the local economy".

Future plans of the GFBRC include an annual Speaker Series that will bring experts to campus to address topics of family business management. The GFBRC also has plans to annually recognize a California family-owned enterprise that demonstrates the highest quality business operations and service to the community. This business will receive the "Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Community Service Award" at an appropriate venue.

"Growing up in a family business, I am keenly aware of the joys and challenges of working with family members," Muscat said. "We at USF offer a supportive environment where first- and second-generation family business owners can satisfy both their business and personal goals. The generous grant from the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation will help us continue the Jesuit tradition of service to this important business community."

The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation promotes religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational endeavors in the nine counties of the greater San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma).

For more information, contact Gary McDonald, director of media relations, at (415) 422-2699 or email mcdonald@usfca.edu