Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin Scholarship Boosts USC Womens Soccer
A gift from alumnus and his wife enables exceptional student-athletes to attend USC.
Actor and comedian Will Ferrell 90 is known around the world for his memorableand often-quotedcharacters in Saturday Night Live and movies like Old School, Elf and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
But out of the spotlight, the Trojan has also quietly taken on a role as steadfast supporter of several causes. He and his wife, Viveca Paulin, have given generously for years to groups including Cancer for College, an organization started by fraternity brother Craig Pollard 90 that offers college scholarships to cancer survivors, and USCs Swim with Mike, which grants college scholarships to physically challenged athletes.
The gift also advances the Campaign for USC, an unprecedented fundraising effort to expand USCs positive impact on the community and world.
Their most recent gift has endowed the first-ever full scholarship for USC womens soccer. In creating the Viveca Paulin and Will Ferrell Scholarship Fund, the couples gift supports an area of deep need: scholarships that enable USC to attract more exceptional student-athletes.
The couple has a special interest in soccer. Paulin, an auctioneer and native of Sweden, formerly played soccer at Pomona College and remains a fan of the sport. Ferrell and Paulin have three sonsMagnus, Mattias and Axelwho also play.
The gift supporting the Viveca Paulin and Will Ferrell Scholarship Fund for USC women’s soccer brings USC Athletics closer to its goal to raise $283 million, or $1 million for each of the 283 scholarships provided across USCs 21 varsity sports.
The gift also advances the Campaign for USC, an unprecedented fundraising effort to expand USCs positive impact on the community and world. After exceeding its goal nearly 18 months ahead of schedule, the campaign has been extended through 2021.