VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises more than $500,000 for students in need

Campaign ran from November 15 to 29, 2022, with gifts from donors, VIU employees and alumni, and community.

Students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) will have fewer financial worries this season following a huge outpouring of support through the VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign.

The campaign, which wrapped up on Tuesday, November 29, saw the community band together to support students, raising more than $395,000 for scholarships, bursaries, awards and programs. With matching funding, that totals more than $515,000, with every dollar directly supporting students. 

“We are grateful for the enthusiastic support, which included longtime donors and many new donors,” said Richard Horbachewski, Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director of the VIU Foundation. “Everyone who gave to the Giving Tuesday at VIU is an inspiration to build a culture of philanthropy in the community.”

Giving Tuesday is a global movement to encourage people to support causes meaningful to them during a season that is heavy on holiday sales and consumerism. Every year, the VIU Foundation selects initiatives to focus its fundraising efforts on. This year, two of the initiatives of focus were the Give a Meal program, which provides meals to students in need on a temporary basis, and the emergency bursary fund, which can quickly assist students in financial distress who are at risk of having to pause their studies.

“We are humbled by the generosity of our donors. Because of them, hundreds of students will have the confidence to focus and be successful as they follow their dreams knowing the community is there to support their educational journey,” said Horbachewski. “Our heartfelt appreciation goes to VIU alumni and employees, local businesses and caring community members for supporting a wide range of initiatives and scholarships. Every single donation makes a difference for students.”

One hundred per cent of every donation will go to the donor’s cause of choice. To learn more about Giving Tuesday at VIU, visit the VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday homepage.

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Media Contact:

Jenn McGarrigle, External Communications Manager, Vancouver Island University

C: 250.619.6860 | E: Jenn.McGarrigle@viu.ca | T: @VIUNews