GEORGIAN COLLEGE
The Joyce Family Foundation grants $1.5M to establish endowment for future nurses at the College

The Joyce Family Foundation announced that it is committing $1.5 million to establish an endowment at Georgian College, which will fund a new bursary program for Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BScN) students.

The Joyce Family Foundation grants $1.5 million to Georgian College to fund a new bursary program for Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing students. Assisting with the presentation are (from left to right) Alexandra Aiken, Vice President Sustainability, Georgian College Students' Association; Maureen O'Neill, Executive Director of The Joyce Family Foundation; Dr. Sara Lankshear, Associate Dean, Georgian College nursing programs; Dr. Sandy McDonald, Trustee, Joyce Family Foundation; Barry Ward, Acting Mayor, City of Barrie; Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College; Steve Clarke, Mayor, City of Orillia; Ali Khonsari, Chair, Board of Governors, Georgian College; Chris Gariepy, Frontline Support Advisory Group Co-Chair (Simcoe County); and Stephen Loftus, Member, Board of Governors, Georgian College.
 

It is the largest gift in support of financial aid that the college has ever received, as well as the largest endowment.

Georgian and the Joyce Family Foundation are united in their shared values around improving access to education and strongly believe the power of education is transformational. 

Dr. Sandy McDonald, a member of the Board of Trustees and a local cardiovascular surgeon was at Georgian's Barrie Campus to make the announcement.

"It brings the Board great pleasure to establish a bursary program for Georgian's nursing students, in support of those who are dedicating their career to caring for others," said Dr. McDonald.

Georgian will welcome the first cohort of students into the new four-year nursing degree program launching this September at both the Barrie and Owen Sound campuses.

Four bursaries, with a value of approximately $4,500 each, will be awarded every year to new full-time students entering the first year of the BScN program, who have demonstrated financial need and have overcome obstacles and adversity. One of the bursaries will be directed to a student who self-identifies as a person with Indigenous ancestry.

Each bursary is renewable each year assuming students remain eligible. By year four, it's anticipated that the endowment will be distributing up to $72,000 every year to support nursing students.

Dr. Treva Job, Simulation Lead, Georgian College, demonstrates Baby Tory, a high-fidelity training infant manikin for Maureen O'Neill, Executive Director of The Joyce Family Foundation.
 

"We are very grateful to the Joyce Family Foundation for recognizing the importance of supporting those who choose to enter the nursing profession," said Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO of Georgian College. "The need for nurses in our communities is acute and this very generous and transformational investment will go a long way to ensuring that financial need is not a barrier for any future nurses who study in our new degree program. It is critical to preparing the next generation of nurses for our region."

This donation, which is part of Georgian's Frontline Support: Health-Care Heroes Closer to Home campaign will help ensure that financial hardship does not prevent aspiring nurses from pursuing a nursing degree at the college. 

For more information on Georgian's Frontline Support campaign and how to give, visit GCHeroes.ca/front-line-support.