Bill and Trudy Ausfahl have transformed the lives of thousands of Cal student-athletes. Through generous gifts of their time and philanthropy, they have impacted some of the most important moments that have helped generations of Golden Bears reach their full potential.
 
Over the past 30 years, the Ausfahls have contributed to the athletic department in countless ways, but four projects stand out: 
 

• The transformation of Harmon Gym into Haas Pavilion, which opened in 1999
• The reinstatement of five sports programs (baseball, men's gymnastics, women's gymnastics, lacrosse and rugby), which were faced with elimination as varsity sports in 2010
• The California Memorial Stadium renovation project, which was completed in 2012
• Their leadership roles in the University's current Gender Equality facilities campaign.

 
Bill serves as a co-chair, along with Lynda Brothers '68 and Brad Brian '74, of the Gender Equality campaign to build modern facilities for the softball and beach volleyball programs. The committee has raised approximately $5 million of its $8 million goal over the last three years. Meanwhile, the University has partnered with Cal Athletics to help fund world-class facilities for both programs that match the student-athletes' commitment to their sports. 
 
"I agreed to be a co-chair because the facilities were inequitable, in poor condition, and it was the right thing to do," explained Bill, who joined Brian as the 2021 Cal Athletic Fund's Golden Bear of the Year recipients for their volunteer efforts. "Also, Trudy was denied the right to compete because she grew up before 1972 and the passage of Title IX, and we have five granddaughters who are good athletes."
 
Bill and Trudy want their granddaughters — and all women — never to be denied access or the resources to compete in college athletics. As Bill put it, Trudy got "mad as hell" when she saw the beach volleyball facility and was determined to take action.
 
"The volleyball players had to rake the sand because others left hazardous debris in the facility," Trudy elaborated. "That was unbelievable to me. I said, 'Bill this is ridiculous. We have to do something.'"
 
The Ausfahls have more than done their part to support the Gender Equality campaign, which is Cal Athletics' top facility priority. In addition to Bill's leadership role, the couple has backed the endeavor with three gifts for a combined $1 million. The Ausfahls are Builders of Berkeley — benefactors who have given at least $1 million to the University — and believe in motivating others to provide opportunities for students. They have offered two matching gifts of $250,000 and one for $500,000. The most recent match followed Ron '89 and Stephanie '87 Rivera's $500,000 gift in 2020 to name the softball field.
 
"We are deeply grateful for Bill and Trudy's exceptional leadership to support the Gender Equality campaign," said Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton. "As a co-chair, Bill has shared the project's important mission in the community. When the new facilities come to fruition, our student-athletes will thrive on the national stage because of changemakers like Bill and Trudy."
 
The Ausfahls value their privacy, so their Gender Equality campaign gifts were originally announced as anonymous. They have since decided to come forward publicly to inspire others to help them raise the remaining funds.
 
"It will be rewarding for Trudy and me and the dedicated committee to reach that final goal," Bill stated. "The momentum of Chancellor Christ's campaign video and the public announcement of our gifts will give us an entrée into some people who will pitch in because they know our story. I am optimistic we will get there fairly quickly."
 
While public recognition doesn't drive the Ausfahls' philanthropy, Bill presented a naming idea to Cal Athletics' leadership to honor Trudy and other women who had no opportunities to compete in Division I intercollegiate athletics. Bill requested that the new beach volleyball building, which will house locker rooms and coaches offices, be named in Trudy's honor. 
 
"Trudy has done so much during her lifetime to help other people," Bill explained while Trudy smiled lovingly at him. "I presented that idea to Brian Mann [Cal Athletics Fund's Chief Development Officer]. We don't need anything named after us. This will be in honor of a lot of women and in particular Trudy."
 
Trudy advocates for gender equality after her childhood featured running races in physical education as the only athletics opportunity provided to girls in school. She was also an outstanding water skier because it was one of few sports options for women years ago. 
 
"We need to help all women receive the fairness that they deserve," Trudy remarked. "I grew up in Akron, Ohio, and there were no sports for women. We had great football and basketball teams, but there was not one opportunity for girls to play sports. There needs to be equity. I am passionate about it because I want all women to have opportunities."
 
Trudy, who graduated from Kent State in 1962 with a teaching degree in business education, worked in business until she retired. Prior to his retirement, Bill was a group vice president and chief financial officer for The Clorox Company and CFO for Miles Laboratories and Cutter Laboratories. Bill beamed with pride as he listed some of Trudy's volunteer accomplishments: Lincoln Child Center, Junior League, driving seniors to medical appointments, and hours as a suicide prevention crisis worker. 
 
"She has the ability to talk with people who are in crisis," Bill said of his wife of 59 years. "Trudy is a school teacher by training. She was the driving force behind us establishing endowments at Kent State for students who are enrolled in the School of Education and want to be school teachers."
 
While working at Clorox, Bill pursued community engagement as the company urged its executives to give back. At one point, he served on six philanthropic boards. In addition to athletics, Bill has impacted other areas at Cal, including recently transitioning to emeritus status after 18 years as a trustee for the UC Berkeley Foundation, where he also served a two-year term as chair.
 
Bill, who earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Cal in 1961 and his MBA from Stanford in 1963, credits Cal for laying the foundation for his success and happiness. Both of his parents attended Cal. His father, Robert Ausfahl '39, competed in track & field for a couple of years for coaches Brutus Hamilton and Al Ragan, and also boxed for the Bears. Bill and Trudy's son, Matthew, earned his Cal degree in political science in 1992.
 
"Cal taught me how to think for myself, which was critical throughout my career," Bill said. "It provided the mechanism by which I traveled to Boston and met Trudy. Those are the two biggest things that I owe to Berkeley."  
 
Trudy and Bill share a love of community service, adventure, the symphony and sports — from all 30 of Cal's sports teams; to professional baseball, golf and tennis; to the Summer Olympics and the World Track & Field Championships; and so much more. They have enjoyed many years as season-ticket holders for Cal football and men's basketball and the Oakland A's. 
 
After three decades, It is clear that Bill and Trudy's contributions to Cal Athletics personify their love for public education and sports. Generations of Golden Bears have excelled as alumni of the nation's No. 1 public university because of their extraordinary commitment to giving back to Cal.
 
"It makes me feel good to help people," Trudy said. "If somebody needs help, I want to be there to help them. It is very simple."