Richard LeRoy, vice president for university advancement, said the donation is "transformative" for the Camarillo campus. The Larraburus moved to Ventura in the early s, where Philippe opened a lab crafting specialized lenses for industrial applications and satellites. The couple were early CSUCI supporters, the university said in a statement, and decided to leave their estate to the university in , before the campus had even fully opened.
It was not until Arlette passed away in that Philippe told the university of the couple's plans. Philippe moved to Oxnard, where he lived until his death in The donation comes without any funding restrictions, which CSUCI president Richard Yao said in a statement is "welcome news" in the face of "budgetary limitations and possible reductions in permanent, long-term funding.
Yao said he plans to use some of the money on capital projects like the university's future Early Childhood Education Center, which has a "significant funding gap. Individuals interested in donating to the university can visit csuci. Reach him at isaiah. You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.
Isaiah Murtaugh Ventura County Star.
