Gilroy's Gavilan College Receives Largest Ever Single Donation

GILROY, CA — Gavilan College, a community college in Gilroy, received an anonymous $40,000 check in April — its largest one-time donation received to date.

The donor was later revealed to be a friend of superintendent and president Dr. Kathleen Rose, who is retiring at the end of the academic year.

According to Rose, the donor requested that the funds go to the most in-need students at Gavilan. Rose announced in a news release Tuesday that $20,000 would go to El Centro, the school’s basic students need program, and the other $20,000 would go to the Gavilan Foundation for student scholarships.

“I am so grateful to our anonymous donor for valuing the work of El Centro and recognizing how El Centro will contribute to student success,” said Annette Gutierrez, the director of basic needs and success.

Related: Gavilan College President Announces Retirement

Gutierrez added that the El Centro Advisory committee would meet this month to discuss the best use of the funds.

Potential uses include expanding the product delivery program into the next school year, providing transportation grants to students who need assistance through the basic needs referral form and providing emergency utility grants to students struggling financially through the basic needs referral form.