Executive Chairman of the Board, American Assets
Search every verified Ernest Rady interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Ernest Rady, executive chairman of American Assets Trust, has continued his long-standing philanthropic focus on homelessness and education. In November 2024, Rady spoke at an event for the Rady Center, a Salvation Army facility set to break ground in 2025. He expressed admiration for the Salvation Army, stating he knows "no other organization that is so devoted to good" and that he and his wife Evelyn wanted to help the homeless after seeing "people living in tents." He added, "I would love to see the ground broken if I live long enough to see it." The event also featured a testimonial from a program graduate who described becoming unemployed during the pandemic, living in his car, and eventually securing housing through the Salvation Army's STEPS program. Rady has previously made major donations to San Diego institutions, including a $120 million pledge to Rady Children's Hospital in 2014 and a $100 million donation to the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego in 2019. In a 2019 speech at the school, he said he "got more than I gave" and expressed gratitude for how the school added "meaning to our lives." He has also been recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Manitoba and as a 2018 Horatio Alger Award recipient, where he stated, "I always was convinced that you not only take from society you give back to."
“When the pandemic led me to become unemployed I was living and working as a bus driver and was forced to live in my car for two months at a safe parking lot program; a social worker gave me the number to the Salvation Army men's program and I was able to move into the STEPS program, secure temporary work, and eventuall...”
“I don't know any other organization that is so devoted to good as this organization; when Evelyn and I decided that we wanted to help the homeless, I drive down the street and I see those people living in tents and I've been so blessed — I said I'd like to do my share to help those people.”
“I wish there were more people in the world like the Salvation Army — we wouldn't have two wars going on.”
“I'm 87 — I married a younger woman; she's going to be 21 next week after 64 years of marriage, so she's gotten younger and I've gotten older.”
“I would love to see the ground broken if I live long enough to see it, and I hope I live long enough to see it with your help.”
“Thank you all for being here — bless the Salvation Army for all the good work you do; the world is grateful and appreciative of what you do.”
“Management lesson learned and I want you to pay attention to this: to be sitting and doing nothing you must be sitting very very high up.”
“Management lesson learned: might get you to the top but ain't going to keep you there.”
“Management lesson learned: not everyone who shits on you is your enemy, not everyone who gets you out of it is your friend, and we're in deep keep your mouth shut.”
“To the school — I’m going to choke up — to Dean Sullivan: who gave up a job as the dean of an established school, moved here because he has a vision, and works so hard in spite of obstacles to create that vision.”
“I remember when there was no funding for the buildings — I was in Sacramento on other business and who do I discover in a state legislator’s office? Dean Sullivan advocating for the allocation of funds to build this building.”
“He’s attracted a group of people to run this school who are so exceptional — I’d like to give them some gratitude as well: David, Scotty, Alan Timmerman, Krishna Bish, Russ Volkanov, Julie Lou (in absentia), Amir, Clark Johnson and many others.”
“It would not be what it is today without you folks and without you Dean Sullivan — I always say that I got more than I gave and in this case today I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for what you have added to the meaning of our lives.”
“The last presentation brought tears to my eyes — and usually I get tears to my eyes when I’m losing money, but this is different.”
“In 2006 Mr. Rady and his company American Assets Inc donated 60 million dollars to San Diego's Children's Hospital. Driven to do more, this past year Mr. Rady pledged a further 120 million dollars to the hospital to establish the Rady Pediatric Genomics and Systems Medicine Institute.”
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