Livermore Lab Foundation event celebrates 10 years of impact

The Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF) recently convened supporters, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) leaders, partners and community members to celebrate 10 years of philanthropic impact. The event recognized a decade dedicated to unlocking scientific potential, advancing groundbreaking research and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.

“Ten years ago, we set out with a vision to connect philanthropic investments with cutting-edge scientific innovation,” said LLF Board Chair Dona Crawford. “[This event] isn't just a milestone on a calendar; it's a reflection of what happens when a community comes together with the shared belief that hands-on science opportunities can change lives, strengthen our future and build momentum for the next generation.”

As the key philanthropic partner to LLNL, LLF plays a vital role in bridging the gap between visionary philanthropy and world-changing science. In its first decade, LLF raised over $11 million for Lab research and student programs, including 175 fellowship awards for students and over 30 distinct research projects.

A student showcase

The evening’s festivities began with a student research showcase, where the 2026 cohort of fellows presented their work from the summer. Topics ranged from astrophysics and fusion science to human health and earthquakes.

Many students emphasized the impact of their fellowship, stating that the opportunity allowed them to experience valuable, hands-on research, build meaningful connections, learn about unexpected fields of study and gain insight into their next career steps.

Noah Gonzalez, a 2024 John S. Foster Jr. Undergraduate Fellow and 2026 intern at LLNL, credited LLF with putting him on the path to a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison.

“I wanted to be a physicist as long as I could remember, but more than that, I wanted to use it as a tool to serve my community,” he said. “The foundation gave me the opportunity to experience what this could be like firsthand. It gave me the wisdom to realize what my true potential as a scientist and physicist can be, as someone who did not have the opportunity to explore that when I was younger.”

Behind the scenes, Sally Allen, executive director of LLF, is driving experiences like Noah’s. Since joining the organization seven years ago, she has worked to build the foundation’s student program from the ground up.

“We provide opportunities to students who might not otherwise be exposed to the research at the Lab,” she said. “It has been very gratifying to see some of these students come back and work at the Lab full time.”

A history of research

The roots of that student success trace back over a decade. In 2015, senior leaders from LLNL and the University of California asked themselves how philanthropic investments could amplify the work of the Laboratory. LLNL Director Kim Budil was part of the effort from the beginning.

“The foundation gives us flexibility, the ability to explore, to experiment, and to apply our capabilities to new and emerging problems that matter,” she said in a video statement. “I helped start this particular partnership because I believed in it, and I believe in it even more now.”

Budil highlighted LLNL’s ALS research as a great example of where philanthropy can make an impact on science.

“With support from the foundation, Livermore researchers were able to identify multiple potential treatments that may extend survival for patients with ALS,” she said. “Think about that for a moment. It's a powerful reminder of how these tools we build for our other missions can contribute in many areas with very human impact.”

The evening’s program also featured other research highlights from the foundation’s history, including the recent AI in Eight Pages report. Caspar Donnison, a postdoctoral researcher at LLNL and mentor to several LLF fellows, spoke about that educational brief, which was designed to provide California lawmakers with science-based context as they consider AI policy decisions.

A bright future

The evening concluded with the launch of LLF’s Science Today, Science Tomorrow campaign, which aims to ensure that critical research and student pathways continue to thrive and fuel the discoveries of the next decade and beyond.

“An anniversary event like this one gives us all a chance to look back with gratitude, but also to look ahead with purpose,” said LLNL Deputy Director for Science and Technology Pat Falcone. “It allows us to recognize what LLF has accomplished, to thank the people that made it possible, and to consider what science, technology and philanthropy can achieve together in the years ahead.”