Giving Back!

Posted on Tuesday, September 18th, 2018

For five decades Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has been an integral part of the Ottawa Valley’s economy. Our graduates have provided a constant source of employees for local businesses and have started up many new companies while our students have been active in community organizations that need volunteers. What is sometimes overlooked is the contribution the College’s students, staff and graduates make through fundraising efforts and the reciprocal benefits that come from this work.

Jason Blaine is the best known Pembroke Campus alumnus to embrace giving back. Over the past five years, his annual charity concert and golf tournament in Pembroke has raised more than $400,000 for various organizations, including the College. The Canadian Recording Artist and Business graduate had provided $100,000 through his charitable fund to the college’s capital campaign when the new Waterfront Campus was being built and then followed up by committing an additional $100,000 to establish an endowment for bursaries to support students in financial need.

Students in the Office Administration-Executive program have also embraced community service through their philanthropic efforts. To help raise awareness about homelessness in Renfrew County, the students built cardboard houses and then had to endear a driving rainstorm while they stayed overnight in their make-shift shelters. Their efforts attracted so much community interest, they raised more than $11,000 for the Grind, the centre that is supporting homeless people in Pembroke’s downtown.

 

The College has certainly been the benefactor of many donations. $2.5 million was raised to support the overall construction costs of the new campus, and many new bursaries have been established through generous community donations. There have also been donations made to renew equipment and to build training facilities on campus. Recently an anonymous donor helped fund a Personal Support Worker lab that replicates a home care setting. The Brick in Pembroke donated the furniture for the lab which will greatly contribute to better preparing graduates of the program to support the elderly in their homes.

Giving back builds stronger communities. We’re proud that Algonquin College is doing its part to get involved in fundraising projects and that the community has recognized the College’s importance to the region by continuing to support its students through financial donations for bursaries and equipment. It feels great to receive, but even better to give back.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs


Comments

Comments are closed.