Students can hit the books all they want, but sometimes there are factors that make their pathways to education challenging.
The VIU Foundation is hoping that on Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3, community members can make donations that will help create and expand access to education locally. The foundation’s campaign this year is highlighting the need for additional scholarships and bursaries for students, a press release notes.
“With the cost of living and education increasing, many of our students have to make difficult decisions to balance their studies, work and family to get by,” says William Litchfield, executive director of the VIU Foundation, in the release. “Our students need your support. Your gift may mean the difference between a student continuing on in their program or abandoning their studies.”
The foundation has set a goal of 400 donations on Giving Tuesday, and there are limited matching funds available to double the impact those donations can have. Donations can be directed to support a certain scholarship, award or bursary, or a particular faculty or program.
Second-year bachelor of science student Rebekah Aplin is an award recipient who said in the release that she is grateful for the generosity that has helped her pursue her studies with a “significantly lower financial burden” and she is taking advantage.
“I have made a point of jumping on every learning opportunity possible…” Aplin said. “I cannot express my gratitude enough for receiving an award and I am so incredibly excited for the future.”
VIU’s workplace essential skills and training, a two-year program for people with cognitive barriers, sold holiday-themed hot chocolate stocking stuffers, which has become a tradition leading up to Giving Tuesday.
For more information about Giving Tuesday, click this link or call David Forrester, VIU advancement manager, at 250-740-6214.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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