CELEBRATING RESILIENCE

In a powerful statement of KPU’s true commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people, the KPU Foundation focused fundraising efforts for its third annual Giving Tuesday (givingtuesday. ca) campaign on support for Indigenous students, celebrating their resilience and growth. The campaign last November raised $148,594 for student awards, including $10,704 for a new fund: KPU Indigenous Student Support and Wellness Programs.

“We are truly thankful to our donors for providing gifts that will help Indigenous students with the financial means to achieve their dreams and celebrate their successes. Your support insures that there are awards available to them. hay cxʷ q̓ ə,” says Gayle Bedard, associate vice president of Indigenous Leadership, Innovations and Partnerships at KPU, finishing with the Coast Salish word for thank you.

A key feature of this year’s campaign is digital art, which was commissioned from a KPU Indigenous student artist. Sylvia Simpson called her piece “Resilience.”

Philanthropist Jim Bennett donated $60,000 to this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign. This gift will provide a $3,000 entrance scholarship each year in perpetuity.

“Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to give this gift. It will help high school students start their post-secondary journey at Kwantlen Polytechnic University,” says Bennett.

The KPU Foundation is grateful to Jim and his family for their generous support.

Over the last three years, KPU Foundation raised over $378,000 through Giving Tuesday, which includes KPU matching dollars, for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and students who have faced barriers, such as students with a disability, students of colour, Indigenous students, LGBTQ2SI+ students, and mature students. The money raised is helping hundreds of students with much-needed awards and bursaries.

If you would like to support KPU Indigenous students and missed the Giving Tuesday campaign, you can donate at any time of the year by visiting give.kpu.ca.