A scholarship fund named after "The Big Bang Theory" was announced by the show's producers and UCLA on Thursday, and will help 20 students pursue degrees starting this fall.
Deadline Hollywood reported that the fund has raised $4 million to date, which includes an initial outlay from producer Chuck Lorre's Family Foundation. Chuck Lorre is also the creator of "Two and a Half Men."
It will help fund the tuition of students specifically studying in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
"When we first discussed it, we realized that when 'Big Bang' started, this freshman class were 10 years old," Lorre said upon the announcement. "Some of them grew up watching the show, and maybe the show had influence on some of them choosing to pursue science as a lifetime goal. Wouldn’t it be great if we can help."
Lorre explained that while the show's characters work at Caltech, a bit of research soon revealed that UCLA had a greater need for scholarships.
"Unlike Caltech, which is a much smaller, private operation, UCLA had a need for rich scholarships for high performing STEM students who financially are falling short for getting great education," he said. "We had to decide how to best spend the money, and Caltech didn’t have the same need."
The initial batch of students will be announced in the fall on the set of "The Big Bang Theory," and may make cameos on the show from time to time.
In addition to Lorre's financial contribution, USA Today reported that additional donors include "the actors who play Sheldon and Leonard, Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki, along with their co-stars, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rauch. Executive producers Lorre, Bill Prady, and Steven Molaro, along with crew members, CBS, Warner Bros. Television, and others in the entertainment industry, also have made donations."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.