Oakland, CA – Mills College has received a major gift of $7.4 million from the estate of Eileen Mitchell Gibbs, an alumna from the Class of 1936. A former resident of Colfax, CA, Gibbs was an avid outdoorswoman who lived her entire life in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Upon her death in 2004 at the age of 89, she bequeathed much of her estate to Mills, leaving an exceptional legacy supporting several high priority programs. 

An enthusiastic gardener and flower arranger, Gibbs founded the Colfax Garden Club in 1948. Her garden was featured in the Colfax Record in 1966, and the Sacramento Bee featured Gibbs on the cover of its “California Country Life” section in 1956.

Gibbs’ home with her first husband, T. Marvin Mitchell, is an architectural landmark on State Highway 174. Fifteen years following the death of Mitchell, she married Chester Gibbs whose estate funds scholarships for college-bound seniors at Colfax High School. Mr. Gibbs was the former owner of the Colfax Independent Telephone Company and a community leader in Placer County until his death in 1994 at age 86. He was chair of the Placer County Planning Commission and served on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, among other activities.

The Eileen Mitchell Gibbs Estate provides support for these critical Mills programs:

Endowment for Technology - $2 million

Achieving and maintaining a technologically advanced campus is a key priority outlined in Mills’ strategic plan.  This endowment will generate funds to achieve that goal and provide for future technological innovations.

Endowed Chair – $1.5 million

An endowed chair was created in 2005 with a lead gift from Susan Penick, (Class of ’71).  The Gibbs Estate’s contribution to the endowment will complete funding of this faculty chair.

Endowment for the Natural Sciences Building - $1.2 million

Mills’ Board of Trustees has directed that fundraising for any new building project include a maintenance endowment component. This portion of the Gibbs Estate will fund maintenance for the Natural Sciences Building project currently underway on campus.

Endowment for Haas Pavilion - $1.2 million

In 1999, the College received a matching challenge pledge from the Walter and Elise Haas Fund to renovate Haas Pavilion. The grant totals $1 million, provided Mills raises an additional $2 million toward the project.  With $800,000 already committed to the renovation, this portion of the Gibbs Estate completes the requirement to receive the Haas grant.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s 20 most diverse colleges. The Princeton Review selected Mills as one of 11 colleges for first-time inclusion in its Best 361 Colleges - 2005. Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

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Deborah Dallinger
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