Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin Scholarship Boosts USC Women’s 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 memorable—and often-quoted—characters 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 USC’s 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 USC’s positive impact on the community and world.
Their most recent gift has endowed the first-ever full scholarship for USC women’s soccer. In creating the Viveca Paulin and Will Ferrell Scholarship Fund, the couple’s 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 sons—Magnus, Mattias and Axel—who 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 USC’s 21 varsity sports.
The gift also advances the Campaign for USC, an unprecedented fundraising effort to expand USC’s positive impact on the community and world. After exceeding its goal nearly 18 months ahead of schedule, the campaign has been extended through 2021.
