Want to leave a legacy of learning?

Three possible ways to consider

By Joan Zaretsky

RTAM has played an important role to supporting our young student relatives. RTAM is offering you a means of leaving a “Legacy of Learning” for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and in today’s family structure, our blended family members. The Winnipeg Foundation RTAM Student Award Endowment Fund currently allows RTAM to annually award four $1000 awards, at a minimal cost, to Grade 12 Graduates who are relatives of an RTAM member. This fund is growing exponentially and has more than doubled the value of its rewards since its initial creation.

The Winnipeg Foundation, with their powerful investment teams, have the ability to compound our initial funds over time to provide us with additional money yearly to award to our talented and deserving high school Graduates. In 2013, RTAM’s initial contribution of $50,000 with the Winnipeg Foundation has currently provided 42 students (four students a year plus 2 extra) with monetary assistance to support their post secondary education costs. Currently we award four students annually with $1000. We recognize with normal inflation, and COVID inflation, tuition fees, housing and the cost of books and technology have all increased significantly. Our Student Awards Committee recently discussed some new options in order to meet the needs of more students. Our brainstorming resulted in the following options: • Increasing the amount of each award; • Adding an award specifically designated for a student entering a Community

College such as Red River Community

Polytechnic, Assiniboine Community

College, University College of the North and others;

• Adding an award specifically designated to support students who apply from outside our province and whose sponsoring relative is an RTAM member; and

• Adding an award for a student entering

Graduate work, a Masters Program in their area of expertise.

All of these Awards require additional funding which we currently do not have in our RTAM budget. All our stories from those who have won an RTAM Student Award in the past have been glowing as they express their appreciation for the funds used for many different purposes related to their education. Increasing our Endowment Funding with the Winnipeg Foundation is our way of increasing our annual funds available for distribution such that we can increase our legacy by increasing our number of Awards and address some specific needs outlined above.

RTAM has proudly awarded over $30,000 over the past ten years to 42 young student relatives, and, thanks to the magic of the Winnipeg Foundation with its compounding and investing, we will leave an ever increasing legacy into the future for more students.

Below are three pathways you can choose to support the Student Awards through your contributions to the Winnipeg Foundation RTAM Student Awards Endowment Fund:

Looking for a new annual charity to offset your income tax? In deciding which organization(s) you select to support with your annual charity donations, consider donating to the Winnipeg Foundation RTAM Student Award Endowment Fund. Your contributions can be used to assist you when completing your income tax statement as the Winnipeg Foundation is a registered charity through CRA. Looking for a charity to offer a donation for a deceased loved one? In the future when you have a loved one who passes away and you are wanting to offer condolences with a donation to a charity, consider donating to the Winnipeg Foundation RTAM Student Award Endowment Fund.

One member of the Student Award Committee suggested she does this whenever a former teacher colleague or friend passes away. The Winnipeg Foundation sends a letter of condolences to the family informing them of the donation made in memory of their loved one.

Looking to leave a legacy in your will? When developing your will or updating it after changes have occurred in your life, consider including a memoriam tax-free legacy donation to the Winnipeg Foundation RTAM Student Award Endowment Fund. You may also request as part of your funeral arrangements that charitable donations be made to this fund.

You can make your donations to the Student Awards Fund by contacting the Winnipeg Foundation by phone, mail or internet.

Winnipeg Foundation: Tel:204-944-9474 1350 – One Lombard Place Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3 scholarships@wpgfdn.org Contact:Anna-Maria Pozzi or you can ask for someone from the Student Awards Team.

Just think of how many more students we can honour and support with our RTAM Student Awards in the future! When you consider the three options above, whichever one or more you choose, you will be forever supporting our future generations as they strive to reach their educational goals!