For Marc and Noel Talluto, entrepreneurship is about more than starting a business. It is about giving people the opportunity to pursue an idea, learn through experience and create something that did not exist before.
Their support of the Talluto Center for Applied Entrepreneurship within the Petrick Idea Center is helping Illinois Wesleyan students do exactly that. Open to students across disciplines, the Center connects the strengths of a liberal arts education with hands-on opportunities to build businesses, participate in pitch competitions, explore investing, learn from entrepreneurs and connect with alumni and community mentors.
“A liberal arts education may be one of the best foundations for entrepreneurship,” Marc said. “This is for all majors.”
The Tallutos’ commitment builds on Marc’s longstanding involvement with entrepreneurship at IWU, from supporting the Titan New Venture Challenge and creating internships to helping students launch real businesses. Their generosity is creating even more opportunities for students to put their interests and ideas to work.
For Marc, it is also an opportunity to carry forward the example set by fellow alumnus Dave Petrick ’67: “I’m hoping to continue what Dave Petrick did for me, which is to inspire philanthropy through leading by example.”