Professor Djamila Ribeiro took part on Monday, September 22, in Noite Magna, a benefit dinner in support of the University of São Paulo’s (USP) Endowment Fund. As a board member of the Fund, Djamila contributed directly to the fundraising: in addition to purchasing a table at the event, held at the Terraço Itália restaurant, she donated a lecture that was auctioned alongside works by artists such as Paulo Von Poser, Regina Silveira, Arnaldo Pappalardo, and Cristiano Mascaro — all with ties to USP.

The event aimed to strengthen the university’s long-term financial sustainability, bringing together patrons, administrators, faculty, and supporters. A string quartet from the USP Symphony Orchestra (Osusp) performed during the dinner.

For the Brazilian philosopher, supporting the Endowment Fund means investing in the social transformation promoted by the public university. “I believe in the transformative power of directing resources to projects that foster research in various fields,” Djamila wrote on her social media. She also highlighted the importance of USP Diversa, a dedicated fund linked to the Endowment, which provides scholarships to students in situations of social and economic vulnerability.

All donations collected — including the auction’s proceeds — were fully allocated to the Fund. Noite Magna shows how philanthropy can be mobilized to strengthen public higher education with responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to inclusion.

The event also reinforced the strategic role of the Endowment Fund’s Board of Directors, which is responsible for selecting projects and defining investment guidelines. The Fund operates under Law 13.800/19, considered a benchmark in governance in Brazil.

“I postponed my trip for a special reason. Now it’s time to finish packing and leave with a sense of mission accomplished,” the philosopher wrote on Instagram, referring to her upcoming move to the United States, where she will take up a post at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to teach in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Visiting Professors and Scholars Program. Djamila is the first Brazilian in history to hold the position.