Lethbridge College publically launched its most ambitious fundraising campaign today. The campaign targets its efforts to renew the college’s aging trades and technology facilities, support the environmentally-innovative Kodiak House residence, reimagine its library and learning space, increase access to student awards, and focus on emerging priorities in programming excellence.
“The Possibilities are Endless” campaign has already raised $13.3 million of its private sector goal of $25 million. The total project cost for this campaign is $103 million.
Wednesday’s event included several significant gift announcements made at a gathering of community members, government officials, students and staff in the Garden Court Restaurant. Among the donations announced were:
- $100,000 from C.E.M. Heavy Equipment. This gift supports the college’s Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project (TTRIP) through the establishment of the C.E.M. High Head Heavy Equipment Bay. The gift will also support student awards through the creation of the Ed Valgardson Memorial Scholarships for Heavy Equipment Technician apprentices and Parts Technician apprentices. These two memorial scholarships, both valued at $1,500 per year, are named in honour of the company’s founder, Ed Valgardson.
- $500,000 from the Métis Education Foundation. The gift will be directed to fund Métis student awards at Lethbridge College, ensuring over $20,000 to be awarded annually through awards of $3,500 each. Awards will be given in the 2013-14 school year. Cost is often the largest obstacle for Métis individuals looking to further their education. Understanding this barrier, the Métis Nation of Alberta and its education, training and research institute, the Rupertsland Institute – Métis Centre of Excellence, have worked to establish Métis specific endowments at post-secondary institutions in the province.
- $1 million from five local philanthropic families who joined together to create a gift that will benefit Lethbridge College students for generations to come. The five families who contributed to this “Power of Five” gift are Ken and Lorna Bateman, Randy and Louise Dunlop, Anna “Jean” and Cale Harris, Randy and Cheryl Jespersen, and Glenn and Janice Varzari. This $1 million gift was made possible with a match from an anonymous donor, now deceased, who wanted to encourage philanthropists to invest in increasing accessibility for students in financial need as well as from a former “matching funding” initiative.
With Wednesday’s announcement, the college will now move into the active, public phase of its fundraising effort. All five targeted areas – the trades facility, the library project, Kodiak House, student awards, and emerging priorities – will benefit from the support given by members of the community, alumni, industry partners and even Lethbridge College employees.
“A revitalized trades building will provide us with flexible education and applied research space to meet the shifting demands of apprenticeship training and technology programming,” says Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College President and CEO. “A modern library and learning space will strengthen the personalized experience that we committed to providing to our learning and research community. And expanding our student awards will ensure that we are honouring excellence in our students and increasing accessibility to higher education.”
The college’s previous major fundraising efforts included TEC 2000 in 1999, which raised close to $4 million for a third floor on the technologies building, and Making Dreams Real in 2005, which raised close to $2 million for scholarship initiatives.
“An investment in Lethbridge College today is an investment in the future of our students, our partners and our local and global community,” adds Burns. “It’s an opportunity we hope the whole community will embrace – just one of many opportunities that are waiting at Lethbridge College.”