Ralph Shapiro ’53, J.D. ’58 and Shirley Shapiro ’59

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Ralph and Shirley Shapiro are legendary leaders and philanthropists to UCLA. They remain intricately involved in UCLA activities, supporting the university in a variety of capacities and maintaining a lifelong commitment to helping the Bruin family. Their contributions have helped to make UCLA a world-class institution, accessible to students in current and future generations.

Ralph Shapiro received his degree in business administration and then went on to UCLA law, where he met his wife Shirley, an undergraduate studying education. Ralph began his career as a lawyer helping major corporations settle complex disputes. He currently serves as chairman of the Avondale Investment Company, managing portfolios including commercial real estate and diversified securities.

The Shapiros have dedicated their lives to UCLA. Ralph is a longtime member of the The UCLA Foundation Board of Directors, the Medical Sciences Executive Board and was president of the Law School Alumni Association. He also served on various advisory councils throughout the university. Shirley serves on the boards of directors of Women & Philanthropy, the Royce Center Circle, the UCLA Law Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment, the Fowler Museum and UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture.

The Shapiros’ support transcends UCLA boardrooms, touching nearly every area on campus and every facet of UCLA’s mission. Their generosity has helped advance groundbreaking research and ensured that UCLA has the latest in academic resources.

A prominent campus landmark, the Shirley and Ralph Shapiro Fountain at the top of Janss Steps, was named in recognition of the couple's longstanding commitment to the university, as well as the Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Courtyard at the UCLA School of Law. The School of Law honored Ralph with the 2008 Alumni of the Year Award for Public and Community Service and named him the 1983 Alumnus of the Year.

Dedicated to philanthropy beyond UCLA, the Shapiro family founded the Shapiro Family Charitable Foundation, which supports organizations that advocate for the arts, education, environmental issues, religious causes, children's health and human rights. These groups range from the United Cerebral Palsy Association and the United Way to the American Jewish Historical Society and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art.

Ralph and Shirley Shapiro have three children. Their son Peter serves as the president of the Shapiro Family Charitable Foundation.