Donor News 2025 by AEPComms

DONOR NEWS

25 YEARS OF GIVING AT QUEEN’S

HOW YOUR DONATIONS MADE AN IMPACT LAST YEAR

WELCOME

Welcome to our new look Donor News.

£9.7m in New Funds Committed

£1.3m raised for Scholarships

1325 donors

£1.1m raised for Cancer Research

£1.8m raised for the new Seamus Heaney Centre

£59k awarded to 64 student clubs and societies

£744k in legacy gifts

8100 gifts made

1,985 alumni engaged through the Telephone Fundraising Campaign

This is a special year as we celebrate 25 years of philanthropy through the Queen’s Foundation. Established in 1999 following a generous gift from Atlantic Philanthropies, and under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Sir George Bain, the Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation has been a leading driver of philanthropy in Northern Ireland for 25 years.

In this special edition of Donor News, we look back at the achievements we have made in the past 25 years with your support.

We recognise you, our alumni, friends, companies and charitable foundations whose gifts have empowered Queen’s to be a world leading university, forging vital connections between Northern Ireland and the world.

Each donation, no matter the size, is a step toward creating a brighter future for the University and for Northern Ireland. Along with lifetime donations, legacy gifts are so important. They fund life-changing research, seeking to overcome some of the major health problems of our time, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. They also fund countless scholarships across the University, ensuring that young people with talent can come to Queen’s irrespective of their background.

Your support has allowed our University to help shape better futures for our students, graduates, communities and the world around us.

Thank you

Professor Sir Ian Greer

President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast

CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE FUTURES GROW

Across the Queen’s campus, we see the visual legacy that philanthropy has built over the years, seamlessly blending cutting edge facilities with classic landmark buildings — where past and future meet on every corner.

In line with our strategic priority to create world-class facilities for students and staff, investment in next generation research spaces, dynamic teaching centres, and innovative study areas enables Queen’s to continue to deliver teaching, learning and research well into the future.

BRINGING THE McCLAY LIBRARY TO LIFE

The construction of the McClay Library in 2009 was the most significant building project at Queen’s since the iconic Lanyon building in 1849, and was the result of the largest single fundraising initiative in the University’s history.

The £50m landmark building was named in honour of the very first Queen’s Foundation Board Chair, Sir Allen McClay, a major benefactor of Queen’s University. More than £30m of the funding came from philanthropy – from a range of trusts and foundations, individuals and companies, Queen’s graduates and friends, locally, nationally and internationally.

REDEFINING RIDDEL HALL

One of the most well-known and recognised buildings at Queen’s started out as the University’s first halls of residence for women. Riddel Hall was supported by a £25,000 donation from sisters Eliza and Isabella Riddel, and housed 1,000 women between 1915 and 1975.

Almost 100 years after it was built, a group of 20 businesses known as the Founders Club took on the challenge of raising £1m towards its redevelopment.

This was a key element of the Beyond Campaign, with £3.5m raised overall from businesses, individual donors, trusts and foundations.

The Riddell Hall site now hosts the William J Clinton Leadership Institute and Queen’s Business School and in 2023, it was expanded to include a state-of-the-art teaching space. The new building includes an enhanced financial trading room and 250 seat tiered lecture theatre, both made possible through philanthropic support.

A LEGACY TO SEAMUS HEANEY

The Seamus Heaney Centre first opened in 2003, under its founding Director and fellow poet, Professor Ciaran Carson.

Building on a literary heritage at Queen’s that stretches back to the 1960s ‘Belfast Group’, the Centre provides an inspiring environment for new and emerging creative talent and

recently moved to a landmark new home on the Queen’s campus.

With almost £2 million raised through the support of donors, including the Wolfson Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Brennan Glucksman Family, the reimagined Centre creates a unique opportunity for outreach and engagement with local community groups and organisations.

“This Centre is more than just a building; it is a tribute to one of Ireland’s greatest poets, Seamus Heaney, and it will be a cornerstone of the University.”

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s

Hughes.

The McClay Library at Queen’s.

The Queen’s Foundation Board at Riddel Hall (from back l-r): John O’Donoghue, Dr John King, Tony Russell, Dr Ed Vernon (front l-r): Norma Sinte, Deborah Lange, James Rutherford, Dr Sheila O’Malley Fuchs.

Pictured at the opening are (l-r): Rachel Brown, Christopher Heaney, Dr Ciaran Hinds, Professor Sir Ian Greer, Marie Heaney, Catherine Heaney, Professor Glenn Patterson and Dr Geraldine

SCHOLARSHIPS

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

Some of the University’s most notable alumni, such as Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and ‘Father of Emergency Medicine’ Frank Pantridge have been supported by scholarships.

Philanthropy has helped to ensure that our most talented students are recognised and supported, that young people who face barriers to accessing higher education are given the opportunity to thrive when they get here, and that Queen’s students get the chance to broaden their horizons through travel.

CLINTON SCHOLARSHIPS

The Clinton Scholarship Fund is designed to remove financial barriers for local students from a widening participation background, so they can undertake study opportunities in the USA during their time at Queen’s.

Launched in honour of President

Clinton and the University’s Chancellor, Secretary Hillary Clinton, the Fund is ensuring international mobility programmes are more accessible to young people who, due to circumstances and not ability, would not have access to these opportunities otherwise.

The study programmes allow students to broaden their horizons and raise their aspirations, bringing those experiences and learnings with them wherever their future leads.

SUPPORTING WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES

The Elite Athlete Programme at Queen’s, combined with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Scholarships, has been instrumental in supporting both the academic and GAA performance of student Conall Bohill. Conall, who will complete his postgrad in Management Studies this year said “Thanks to this support, I’ve been able to achieve success on the field while further developing my academic pursuits.

EMPOWERING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The Copty Scholarship was set up in 2020 by Queen’s alumni, Georgina Copty and her husband Chris McDowell, with the aim of transforming lives through education. The Scholarship provides a path for Palestinian students to study for their Master’s at Queen’s.

Georgina said: “My family and I have first-hand experience of how scholarships can open up a path to higher education and make a significant difference to the lives of students. Throughout my higher education, I benefitted from other people’s generosity in the form of scholarships and financial support which allowed me to get the type of education that I longed for but knew was out of my reach. Studying abroad has enriched me profoundly and changed the course of my life.”

2024 Copty scholar Yousef Albaba who will be studying a Masters in Public Health at Queen’s, said: “I’m based in Gaza, Palestine and after doing an undergraduate in medicine I continued my studies in Cairo. I always dreamed of pursuing a Masters degree in another country and when I learnt about the Copty scholarship, I knew I wanted to come here.

“My first impression of Belfast is that it’s a friendly, international city. Everyone has been really helpful so far. I’m looking forward to a new experience, new adventures, meeting new people and of course, getting a good grade.”

2024 Copty scholar Yousef Albaba

1: Clinton Scholarship students Paul Coran, Aoife Press and Kyle Jones.

2: Elite athlete Conal Bohill.

3: Pictured (l-r): Copty Scholar Yousef Albaba, Queen’s Foundation Board Member Georgina Copty, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer, Copty Scholar Daniella Dumak and Chris McDowell.

MEDICAL RESEARCH

LEADING THE WAY ON HEALTH

Gifts and support from trusts, foundations, businesses and families are funding breakthroughs in medical research at Queen’s, saving and improving lives across the world.

From innovative international clinical trials to transform the lives of cystic fibrosis patients to new treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), research at Queen’s is groundbreaking and global, making a difference to people’s lives at home and across the globe. Philanthropy helps make this happen.

SIMULATED LEARNING FOR REAL WORLD BENEFITS

The KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre provides hands-on learning for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Medical, Nursing and Midwifery, Dentistry and Pharmacy students train together in interactive simulation scenarios that closely replicate the real clinical world.

The Centre is the culmination of a five-year philanthropic project that began in 2018 and has raised £2m from the University’s alumni and friends. Along with a £1m investment from the University, the substantial investment in facilities has not only developed Queen’s historic campus into an innovative research environment but has also transformed learning for our students and teaching for our staff.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH

Denise Fitzgerald, a Professor of Neuroimmunology at Queen’s, leads a research team that works mostly on Multiple Sclerosis and its relevance to a range of other neurodegenerative diseases.

A recent legacy gift will allow her to greatly expand the scope and ambition of the research her team can undertake.

At 21, Denise was diagnosed with a rare condition called Transverse Myelitis causing inflammation and damage to her spinal cord. Because of that, she was paralysed and had to learn to walk again.

“This really sparked my interest in understanding why the damage in my spinal cord repaired so well and why that doesn’t happen in diseases like MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

And so, my research team works on understanding the details of how our brain tissue can become repaired after it has been damaged.

“We recently received a legacy gift that is going to allow us to train the next generation of researchers from backgrounds such as science, medicine, nursing, engineering, and bring these different types of people together in multi-disciplinary teams to undertake cuttingedge research that’s really going to push the boundaries of knowledge that we are seeking to understand and improve the lives of patients who have neurodegenerative diseases that affect them on a day-to-day basis.”

1: Pictured at the KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre are (from l-r): Former Interim Centre Director, Professor Gerry Gormley, ViceChancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, Dean of Education MHLS, Professor Karen Morrison, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Elborn, InterSim students, and Centre volunteer patient.

2: Professor Denise Fitzgerald.

3: Professor Joe O’Sullivan.

PROSTATE CANCER CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

The Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence is delivering cuttingedge clinical trials and testing new, promising treatments to both improve cancer outcomes and reduce treatment-related side effects.

The Centre was made possible after a generous £1.6m donation - one of the largest single donations in the University’s history - from a local charitable trust, set up by a donor who had been part of a previous clinical trial at Queen’s.

This donation has built on the University’s existing cancer research programme, funding clinical trial staff, lab scientists and PhD students, with the Centre acting as an access point for industrial partnerships, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

One of the Centre’s leads, Professor Joe O’Sullivan, said: “The first independent Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence on this island puts Queen’s at the forefront of world-class cancer research carried out here in Northern Ireland.”

QUEEN’S ANNUAL FUND

WORKING TOGETHER TO SHAPE A BETTER WORLD

Philanthropy plays an important role at Queen’s, supporting strategic priorities at the University within capital development, medical research and a transformative student experience – and that’s where the Queen’s Annual Fund comes in.

Since 1999, supporters of the Queen’s Annual Fund have been helping to enhance the experience our students have at Queen’s, collectively contributing to approximately £6 million to support over 700 studentled projects, which have benefitted hundreds of thousands of students over the last 25 years. The projects are supported by philanthropic gifts from graduates and friends of the University. From improving mental health and wellbeing to supporting sporting activity, from making a positive impact on local communities to launching business start-ups, there are a diverse range of projects and events across the University which depend on Annual Fund support.

TERRIFIC LITERIFIC

Queen’s first ever student society was established in 1850 and ran out of steam sometime in the early 20th Century. It was brought back to life in 2011 as a key platform for energetic debate among students.

The society is responsible the Annual Fund supported Schools Debating Competition which raised the bar on public speaking and debating skills for Queen’s students and post primary pupils who took part in the competition. Students play an instrumental role in organising and engaging with schools, offering them training and supporting them to develop their confidence in debating.

“The Queen’s annual fund provided us with a sum of money which has allowed us to purchase better equipment for our debate competitions. I feel like this really shows you that debating isn’t something for the elite or for the top of your class – it’s something that anybody can do and it’s accessible to all.”

Ella Griffiths Philosophy, Politics and Economics Development Student

BIG CLOTHES SWAP

Queen’s has a major focus on sustainability and welcomes new ways of encouraging sustainable practices on campus.

Enactus Belfast is a social enterprise society which aims to engage students to improve the world through social action. Queen’s students were keen to tackle fast fashion and set up the Big Clothes Swap to keep clothes circulating, reduce resources and ultimately steer clothes away from landfill.

“I’m a firm believer that education changes lives and consequently, societies. As a long-term supporter of the Fund, that’s a key motivator for me. When the students get involved with projects, they can continue to connect with each other and keep trying to make a difference. Supporting the Fund can truly make a difference in people’s lives.”

Annual Fund donor Marlene Morrissey

1: The Literific Society and local students at the NI Debating Competition at Stormont.

Queen’s students at the Big Clothes Swap. 1

PATHWAY BURSARY FUND COMMENT

PROVIDING THE PATHWAY TO EDUCATION

Kaylem McShane knew from a young age that computer science would drive his career. It always fascinated him and was what kept him focused as he worked 16-20 hour weeks through his A Level course to be able to pay the bills.

In 2019, Kaylem took part in the Pathway Opportunity Programme, an initiative led by Queen’s which supports talented young people in schools across Northern Ireland to access higher education through a dedicated programme of engagement in Years 13 and 14. When they come to Queen’s, students are given a £1,000 bursary from the Pathway Bursary Fund and the opportunity to access further support throughout their degree.

The Pathway Bursary has meant that not only has he been able to continue to study at Queen’s but that “For me, the bursary is a show of support towards my studies.”

He says: “One of the most impactful aspects of my university experience has been the support I received from the Pathway Bursary. Having the bursary to help with essentials like rent and utilities has meant I could use my income from

work to enjoy my hobbies and social life. It also allowed me to explore different experiences and build new skills without the constant worry of managing my bills. The Pathway Bursary has meant more to me than just financial assistance. It’s a true sign of support for students from backgrounds where university might not always seem like an achievable goal. For students in the Pathway Programme, it’s powerful to see people willing to invest in us, trusting that we’ll work hard, complete our studies, and make the most of the opportunities provided. As I see it, the bursary is someone betting on us and saying: ‘I believe in you’.”

“The bursary is more than simply financial aid – it’s a lifeline that has empowered me and countless other Queen’s students to pursue our dreams. With this support, we have been able to focus more on our studies, gain essential experiences, and grow in ways we couldn’t without it. ”

Kaylem McShane

How you can support our students

We rely on your help to provide ongoing support for our Pathway Opportunity Programme students during their time at Queen’s.

An annual bursary can make a huge difference to their peace of mind - helping to relieve financial stress, allowing them to focus on their studies and make the most of their university experience.

Scan here to support our students.

Eddie Friel joined Queen’s in January 2024 as the new Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy

What inspires you most about philanthropy at Queen’s?

It is so heartening to hear stories about the real-life impact of philanthropy on our students, our research and the wider work of Queen’s.

There are so many stories of individuals who have been supported by scholarships, mentoring, and similar programmes and have gone on to do great things. Without that initial support, that may not have happened. I was fortunate to receive a grant to study at Queen’s and I now donate each month to help the other students do the same.

Seamus Heaney received a scholarship while he was at Queen’s and went on to support a major fundraising project which kicked off the Queen’s Foundation 25 years ago. The new Seamus Heaney Centre provides an inspiring environment for our students, staff, writers and the wider community and will harness the development of many more creative talents in the years to come.

Has there been any standout moments since you joined the University?

The University’s largest ever inkind gift from Alteryx providing access to free software, training and accreditation in data analytics was a significant achievement and will benefit many staff and students.

Why is philanthropy so important?

Queen’s University’s motto is Pro tanto quid retribuamus? which translates as “As for so much, what shall we give back?” Philanthropy has been part of

DIRECTOR EDDIE FRIEL

the fabric of Queen’s since it opened 180 years ago. It’s about much more than funding: many alumni contribute through mentoring and volunteering. It’s about investing in the future of young people and their potential to positively impact society.

What would you say to donors about the impact of their contributions? Thank you. We need you. Without you, many of the positive impacts of university life for our students would be lost. We appreciate your support, your commitment and your contributions to philanthropy at Queen’s and hope we can continue to count on your support.

What are you looking forward to this year?

This year is the 180th anniversary, an enormous milestone. I’m looking forward to recognising Queen’s contribution to society since 1845 and we plan to celebrate the contributions of our graduates on these islands and beyond.

Queen’s will continue to innovate, push boundaries and educate the world. We will continue to be a landmark institution for Belfast, for the island of Ireland and for the rest of the world.

DONOR THANK YOU EVENT

We were delighted to host donors, volunteers and legacy pledgers at at Riddel Hall in October to say a big thank you.

The event also celebrated the legacy of philanthropy at Queen’s over the past 25 years, which included significant investment in our campus and in our students.

“We are enormously grateful to the Queen’s alumni, friends, companies and charitable foundations for their contributions over the years. The Foundation’s success and that of the University over these 25 years serves as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together.”

Dr Ryan Feeney, Vice President (Governance and External Affairs) and Registrar at Queen’s

LEGACY GIFTS

CHANGING LIVES IN

MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE

People leave charitable gifts in their Will to Queen’s for many reasons. For some, it’s a way to support the next generation of students in appreciation for their own time at Queen’s. Others want to help fund the world-class, lifechanging research that the University pioneers. For many, it’s a way to continue the support they have shown to the University during their lifetime.

For lifetime and legacy donors Richard and Julie Buchanan, their decision to give a legacy gift was deeply personal. They chose to give in memory of their daughter Catherine, a passionate physics enthusiast, who died from a rare form of Leukaemia in 2013, aged seventeen.

In 2019, the couple established the Catherine Buchanan Scholarship to support young women studying physics. Julie explained: “We decided to use some of the money we would have spent on Catherine’s education to fund scholarships here at Queen’s

in the Physics and Astrophysics department. We wanted to try and help young women in science, in some small way, to achieve whatever they want to achieve.”

A LEGACY IN ACTION

When Richard Buchanan’s father died in 2021, Richard and his wife Julie were in the unusual position where they could give a legacy gift during their lifetime. They chose to vary the terms of Richard’s father’s Will via a Deed of Variation to make a generous donation supporting the study of physics at Queen’s.

“Why did we do this? It’s really about Catherine’s legacy and memory, and to be honest, doing something to keep her memory alive”

Richard Buchanan

Part of the legacy gift enhanced the Catherine Buchanan Scholarship, while the remainder was used to help refurbish Queen’s Astrophysics Lab with 14 high-quality screens and a state-of-the-art audio-visual system. The new equipment funded by this legacy gift supports the collaborative work between Queen’s and Oxford University to scan the sky on a daily basis, searching for hazardous asteroids, planets around other stars and the most energetic explosions in the cosmos.

This generous legacy gift is not only supporting female physics students with an aim to increase representation of women in science but is also helping to monitor our skies keeping us safe from asteroids.

A SPECIAL COMMITMENT

Legacy gifts like the Buchanans’ play a crucial role in shaping the work of Queen’s. Gifts in Wills fund scholarships, advance research, enhance facilities and much more.

Leaving a gift in your Will to Queen’s is a remarkable commitment to the University’s future and to the enduring value of education and research. These gifts represent faith in what we can accomplish together, today and for generations to come.

JOIN US IN SHAPING THE FUTURE

If you are thinking about leaving a legacy gift to support a cause you are passionate about at Queen’s and would like to discuss your intentions, please contact Louise Carey, Legacy Manager on +44 (0)7747 234282 or l.carey@qub.ac.uk.

Richard and Julie Buchanan with scholarship recipient, Leah Donnelly