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VIU targets donation to tuition waiver program

NANAIMO – Vancouver Island University says it will benefit from a $500,000 donation from The Joyce Foundation.

Vancouver Island University says it will benefit from a $500,000 donation from The Joyce Foundation.

The money will aid the Youth in Care Tuition Waiver program and will go toward bursaries for ongoing support of VIU students in the Youth in Care Tuition Waiver program who are over the age of 24, according to a press release.

The Youth in Care Tuition Waiver program was started in 2013 by the university and it waives tuition for students that have grown up in the province's care system.

Youth living in care lose the majority of B.C. government support when they reach the age of 19, with only a few programs continuing until the age of 24, according to the university.

In addition to the tuition waiver, the university also has bursaries to further assist former youths in care with books, supplies, daycare, rent and food.

The Joyce Foundation is the philanthropic foundation of Ronald V. Joyce, one of the investors of the first Tim Hortons doughnut shop.