California State University, Northridge has announced a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor who asked that the funds be used for scholarships and student assistance.

The gift, a cashier's check made out to the California State University, Northridge Foundation that arrived in the mail, will be used to create the Scottsdale Endowment in support of the university's Northridge Scholarship Program, which targets high-achieving, incoming freshmen, university officials said. The endowment's name comes from the location of the bank — Scottsdale, Arizona — that issued the check. According to the university, demand for financial aid and scholarship support has increased by more than 160 percent in the past year.

"The gift...is an affirmation that Cal State Northridge has matured as an institution," said university president Jolene Koester "As we celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, I'm pleased to say we are experiencing more and more the impact of support from alumni and friends who are grateful for what Cal State Northridge has meant in their lives. As a university, we pledge to be good stewards of these funds."