Vancouver Island University (VIU) students in financial need will be able to focus on their studies rather than on meeting basic needs thanks to the generosity of the local community.
From left to right: Dr. Tim Goater, Biology Professor Emeritus, along with Isabella Loberiza and Bryan Lamprecht, co-presidents of the VIU Biology Club, present Andrea Tolentino, Annual Giving Coordinator, with a cheque for the Dr. Tim Goater Scholarship in Zoology fund. The fund supports an annual scholarship for Biology students who share Goater's enthusiasm and curiosity for the biodiversity, ecology and natural history of invertebrate or vertebrate animals.
The university's eleventh annual Giving Tuesday campaign wrapped up on Tuesday, December 3. Thanks to the generosity of the community, almost $380,000 was raised, surpassing the goal of $350,000.
Richard Horbachewski, VIU Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director of the VIU Foundation, said this year's campaign focus, the VIU Access Fund, resonated with people. The VIU Access Fund is a special-purpose fund that provides students with financial support and access to specialized equipment so they don't have to choose between paying bills and attending school.
"With inflation and rising costs of living, we know students are struggling more than ever to meet basic needs while they access the education that will help them follow their career aspirations," he said. "We are grateful to both our longtime and new donors for their support for our students. Together, we are making a difference for students so that they can go on to make a difference in the world. Giving Tuesday at VIU is about more than donations, it's about investing in our future leaders, creators and change-makers."
Initiatives the fund has supported this year include the gear closet, an equipment loan service that outfits resource management students with the expensive clothing required during field work; the library's laptop loan program, which allows students access to this vital piece of equipment if they cannot afford to buy their own; a bi-weekly shuttle that takes students living in residence to low-cost grocery stores; and the career closet (opening in the spring), which provides students with professional clothing to wear to job interviews.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement to encourage people to support causes meaningful to them during a season that is heavy on holiday sales and consumerism. One hundred per cent of every donation goes to the donor's cause of choice. To learn more about Giving Tuesday at VIU, visit the VIU Foundation's Giving Tuesday homepage.
