Long before there was a President鈥檚 Dinner 鈥� or even a 海角社区CI campus 鈥� there was a 1999 barbecue in Linda Dullam鈥檚 backyard that brought together dozens of supporters intent on founding a four-year public university in Ventura County.
鈥淚t was wonderful,鈥� said Dullam, who remains one of 海角社区CI鈥檚 most loyal supporters. 鈥淲e had this great group of people who cared deeply about building this University, and we loved every minute of it.鈥�
Dullam鈥檚 backyard would be one of many places where 海角社区CI Planning President Handel Evans convened the indispensable group that became the President鈥檚 Circle.
鈥淢y charge from the 海角社区 Chancellor was to start a university with no money, no students, and no staff,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淭he President鈥檚 Circle became sort of an early fundraising arm. It was a way of getting out into the community and creating excitement for the University. We talked to different groups and found community members and friends to donate $1,000 a year. By the time I left (in Spring 2001), there were over 200 members.鈥�
President鈥檚 Circle members Patty McMillan, Linda Dullam and Norma Maidel pose at an event in the early 2000s.
Today, President鈥檚 Circle members, who contribute $1,000 or more each year to the University, remain an integral part of 海角社区CI鈥檚 growth. The group serves as a partner to the 海角社区CI Foundation, helping to bridge the gap between state funding and the private donations required to support a rapidly growing university. Members enjoy invitations to special events with the President throughout the year, including receptions with students, faculty and guest speakers, and the annual President鈥檚 Dinner.
鈥淭he President鈥檚 Circle is 海角社区CI鈥檚 core group of most-loyal donors,鈥� said Eva Gomez, Director of Annual Giving and Special Gifts. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been instrumental to supporting our highest-priority needs and the overall growth of the University. We have some that have been giving every year since 1999.鈥�
Today, you鈥檒l find many of those founding President鈥檚 Circle members are still hard at work championing 海角社区CI.
The President鈥檚 Circle founding members wall at 海角社区CI features dedicated tiles.
海角社区CI is part of my life,鈥� said Doug Off, president of Ojai Oil Co. and founding member of the President鈥檚 Circle. 鈥淚t has given back to me the chance to speak to MBA classes and the ability to guide others around the campus. More often than not, I鈥檓 meeting very talented young people that have degrees from 海角社区CI. Quite a few of my employees and my friends鈥� employees can now say, 鈥榃e have a graduate from 海角社区CI.鈥欌��
鈥淚 am overcome with gratitude that I was part of the creation of this University,鈥� said Pat Richards Dodds, a founding Chair of the 海角社区CI Foundation Board and a recipient of the Robert J. Lagomarsino Award. 鈥淭he campus is now alive with students, and careers are being created and lives changed forever because of a dream that took over 30 years to become a reality. This is the best investment that I can imagine for my community.鈥�
To learn more, contact Eva Gomez, Director of Annual Giving and Special Gifts, at eva.gomez@csuci.edu or 805-437-3271.