VENTURA : College Foundation Director Steps Down

The executive director of the Ventura College Foundation, a college fund-raising arm, has announced his resignation because of recent questions about his effectiveness as a money manager.

Jim Hibbs defended his eight-year tenure with the foundation Saturday, pointing to several achievements, including the construction of a 5,000-square-foot learning center funded entirely through private donations.

“That center exemplifies what I was trying to do as director,” Hibbs said. “It was something that put the students’ needs first. We started with zero money and raised $400,000 in private donations to make that happen.”

Hibbs, a former realtor and professional baseball player, said he felt his resignation was in the foundation’s best interests because recent negative attention given to its internal struggles would hurt its ability to raise money.

“All this attention is just going to keep people away,” he said. “The only people it hurts in the end are the students.”

The foundation was created in 1985 to find private donors for projects that could not be funded by public money. The board of directors will now seek an executive director who will focus on more sizable donations.

Hibbs said he is considering a run for the Ventura County Community College District board next year.