They served more sausages than ever before at the TRU Foundation’s Annual Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast this morning.
Two hundred and fifty people, 100 more than last year, attended the morning’s event, which raised $19,000 for student scholarships and bursaries and other projects at TRU.
“Last year, even though the Foundation awarded over 1,000 scholarships and bursaries to students, there were another 642 students that applied for financial aid and did not get it,” said Foundation Chairperson Paul Wright. “We estimate the unmet need for student assistance was over $600,000. We want to bridge this gap.”
Also speaking at the breakfast was Melanie Conrad, a TRU Bachelor of Science degree graduate now a PhD candidate at UVic, who gave the assembled benefactors a student’s view of financial support.
“I would like to say thank you again to Joan and Errol, the TRU Foundation, and people like you for providing a support structure to help me realize my dreams. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you,” she concluded.
The Foundation is a non-profit society with a volunteer board of 16 directors and 73 volunteer society members from the community working on four committees.
Last year the TRU Foundation raised over $1 million to benefit TRU students through donors establishing a new award, renewing commitments to an existing annual award, or increasing the value of their endowment funds.
Funds are also raised through various TRU affiliated groups that contribute money for a specific purpose like the Sports Task Force who work diligently to raise money to help student athletes.
Gaming revenue, income from the Foundation’s $7 million endowment fund, its direct mail campaign and award-winning events like the annual Foundation Gala add to student award funds. As well, the Foundation’s planned giving program, in which donors leave a legacy through a gift in their wills or life insurance policies, raised over $1 million from donors last year.
This year’s Kick-off Breakfast was sponsored by Howard Bingham Hill Architects. For more information, please contact Karen Gamracy at 371-5715 or email.
