New Board Member Has a History of Philanthropy at Ventura College

Ventura, CA, September 18, 2014 --(PR.com)-- After serving on the Ventura College Foundation’s scholarship selection committee for a number of years, Eleanor Tillquist recently joined its board of directors. She will serve with her husband of 62 years, George, who has been on the foundation board for 10 years.

As a board member, Eleanor will provide guidance and oversight to the foundation in support of Ventura College’s students and programs with the goal of improving student success and furthering the college’s role as a community asset.

The Ventura couple actively volunteers in the community, is philanthropically minded and believes that a college education should be available to anyone who seeks it. Putting their beliefs into action, George started a legacy scholarship at Ventura College in Eleanor’s name and gave it to her as a birthday present.

“Eleanor and George like to help. They know they can make a difference to a great number of people in need,” said John Woolley, chair of the Ventura College Foundation board of directors. “Having Eleanor join George on the board affirms their commitment to the college and its students.”

The couple said they are inspired to help the students of Ventura College because of their large, multi-generational family, which includes four children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

After high school, Eleanor attended Century College of Medical Technology and worked as a blood bank technician at the Chicago Blood Donor Service. She later became the blood bank director at South Chicago Community Hospital. With her medical background, she was inspired to volunteer at Ventura County Medical Center and has held many volunteer leadership positions there over the years.

She is a specialist in scholarship selection work, helping at the Ventura County Community Foundation and VCMC. She is past president of the Santa Barbara Women’s Club, and she and George are active in their church.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot.