“Every college needs a
vibrant foundation. South
County is home to many
students with economic need,
including foster youth and
the homeless. The Gavilan
Educational Foundation can
raise emergency funds and
in-kind donations to cover
food, gas, and bus passes.
We are working to build up
resources and community
connections, and taking the
college’s educational mission
into the community. It’s all
about making progress.”
B
obbi Jo is a Morgan Hill native with generational
roots in the community. Her grandparents grew
walnuts in Paradise Valley in 1935, and her grand-
father worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a linotype
operator. The youngest of five children, she graduated from
Live Oak High School and spent a year and a half as an Art
major at San Jose State University before shifting her focus
to the field of emergency medical response.
She enrolled in an EMT program at San Jose City College
which led to a position with San Jose Ambulance in 1983.
From there, she continued her training at the Daniel
Freeman Paramedic School in 1985 and spent the next 12
years working as a paramedic.
Bobbi Jo joined “Out & About Magazine” in 2008 and
purchased it in 2010. In 2013 the magazine received an
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
outstanding small business award from the City of Gilroy.
She sold the magazine but continued as publisher till 2016.
In 2017, she landed her “dream job” as Coordinator for
the Educational Foundation and Alumni Relations at Gavilan
College, bringing several years of experience in fundraising,
community engagement, organizing, event planning and
publishing to her new role. Today, Bobbi Jo is developing
plans to engage local chambers of commerce, industry
partners and alumni with the Foundation. Gavilan will mark
its 100th anniversary with a year-long celebration including
monthly activities culminating in a major 2020 event.
Between 2012 and 2017 she got involved in community
service by joining and later becoming a board member of
the Gilroy Rotary Club and the Gilroy Arts Alliance board.
She is also an alumna of Leadership Gilroy’s Class of 2016.
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