Welcome to the online portal for information about the Janine and Pierre Gilles Scholarship
The Gilles Family Scholarship website is a portal for anyone wondering who started this scholarship and how it can benefit students needing financial assistance. It is also a convenient way for our donors and friends to get updates about recent recipients and the amount spent helping students.
The short answer to who started the scholarship:
Janine and Pierre Gilles’ oldest daughter Marlene reflected that it would be a wonderful way to celebrate their father’s 90th birthday by establishing a scholarship in both parents’ names. Modest effort by all 4 siblings would be enough to begin offering scholarships amounting to $1000 every year. The brothers and sisters all agreed and announced the decision to their father at the formal party held in his honor in September 2013.
The long answer:
The scholarship is named for both the parents because the children agreed that their mother had always been an elemental influence for learning, both in support of her immediate and her extended family. Janine earned an education degree in her youth and a second degree in her 60s.
To expand on the legacy of parents who themselves regularly consulted reference tools to answer questions, we chose to support the students at Palomar with our ‘philanthropy’. We know that ‘Learning for Success’ (Palomar’s motto) is essential for vocational education, economic sustainability and authentic self-esteem. We know this because we have lived it. A favorite saying of Pierre, our father, was ‘The knowledge is in the book’.
Such being our heritage, the Gilles siblings hope that in documenting and publicizing our modest beginning we will inspire other loved ones to contribute to our scholarship or perhaps to another fund that better matches their interests. At heart we believe this new commitment will reinforce our discipline to always value purposeful and deep learning.
If you’re a family member realizing you meant to contribute but had neglected to do so, here’s all you need to do:
- Write a check payable to the Palomar College Foundation
- Include Gilles Scholarship, Acct No. 1267 on the memo line
- Mail the check to
- Palomar College Foundation
- Palomar College, A-4B
- 1140 West Mission Road
- San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Unfortunately our fund is not eligible for online giving so all donations must be made made by mail, or in person if you live locally.
Contributions to the scholarship are tax-deductible. The Foundation Office will mail you a statement to document charitable giving for tax purposes.