Many members of the Queen’s University Alumni Association’s Ottawa Branch graduated with a great education, lifelong friends and the tools to start a successful career. Now branch members want to give young students in the National Capital Region the same experience.
The Branch has launched the Queen’s Ottawa Alumni Branch Bursary to help first-year students in need from the National Capital Region attend Queen’s. “Education opens doors. Getting an education at Queen's opens even more doors,” says Ottawa Branch President Jennifer Pelley, MPA’09.
The Branch has agreed to raise $50,000 over the next five years in support of this initiative.
To take a first step towards achieving this goal, a scotch-tasting and food-pairing event on Nov. 14 in Ottawa will formally kick-off fundraising efforts for the bursary. Besides enjoying a special food and drinks menu that has been prepared especially for this occasion, guests will also have the opportunity to learn more about what the branch will achieve through this initiative.
“Finances shouldn't be a barrier to getting an education but it often is. There are a lot of students who struggle to make ends meet – they work multiple jobs, they build up debt to attend university. Right now, as alumni, many of us are in a position to help,” says Ms. Pelley.
More targeted fundraising events will be held in the future. Branch volunteers will also be holding small raffles and 50/50 draws at non-fundraising events to keep the momentum going.
“We want to open up the Queen’s University experience to future generations of students, and we are asking alumni in Ottawa to help us make that happen,” says the Branch’s Vice-President of Philanthropy Victoria Blackburn.
Federal public servants in the Ottawa area are also being encouraged to choose the Queen's Ottawa Alumni Branch Bursary as one of their preferred recipients for the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign. All people have to do when filling out their contributions forms is be sure to include the following information in Box 5 (Other Canadian Registered Charities):
- Queen’s University
- 107868705RR0001 (charitable registration number)
- Queen's Ottawa Alumni Branch Bursary (fund name)
Gifts in support of the Queen’s Ottawa Alumni Branch Bursary can be made online.
Ottawa Branch - Inaugural Scotch Tasting Fundraiser
Date: Monday, November 14
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Petit Bill’s Bistro, 1293 Wellington Street West, Ottawa
Cost: $75/person – includes a welcome cocktail, four tutored scotch pairings, a four-course meal, taxes, gratuities, and a bursary donation
Please RSVP online by Friday, Nov. 11.
