Foundation receives new donations to provide students with more scholarships

The Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation presented George Brown College with a $31,000 cheque in support of 10 student scholarships | Photo Courtesy of George Brown College

“We want to make education affordable”, said Cindy Gouveia, president of the George Brown College foundation.

According to its website, the George Brown Foundation works to make education affordable, “by raising money to support student success through scholarships and bursaries, as well as through larger initiatives that strengthen the college’s ability to offer programs for specific industries and professions.”

The foundation received an $8 million gift from Jack Cockwell and the Brookfield Partners Foundation in October, and a $50,000 USD donation from Coca-Cola in the same month.

Gouveia noted that the Coca-Cola scholarship will be allocated so that 10 scholarships will go to the centre for hospitality, and five each to the centres of business, and construction and engineering technologies. Students can submit their application online (gbcawards.ca) or at the GBC awards office at their campus. The deadline for applications for the award is Jan. 30.

In order to assess the needs of students, Gouveia said that it is important to understand the barriers that certain students face in comparison to others.

“I am a first generation student. I had friends whose parents made sure that they had everything they needed since day one.” said Gouveia.”Whereas, I had to learn when you are doing this type of program you have to buy A, B, C, D, E and you can’t go into the classroom if you don’t.”

For Gouveia, breaking down those barriers and providing assistance to students in need helps build their confidence to succeed in their education.

The foundation has received several other significant contributions. TBM Services Inc. made a donation for $100,000, JP Morgan Chase & Co. donated $170,000, Concert Properties donated $70,000, BMO donated $40,000 and National Bank contributed $10,000 plus their support in kind for some international students’ events.

On Nov. 5, the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation (MPCF) presented a $31,000 check for student scholarships. According to a release from the college, the MPCF has donated over $116,000 for George Brown students since 2009.

One of the biggest sources of donations for the GBC Foundation comes from GBC students themselves. The Student Association of George Brown College approved a $25 student levy in 2013 that will provide almost $300,000 in awards and bursaries for students this year and is estimated to raise $6 million in 10 years for the GBC Foundation.

“There are several other expenses of living in Toronto besides tuition,” Gouveia said. “If this can help ease the burden of a rent payment, or if this can help ease the burden of a bus pass, if it helps ease the burden of buying a suit to go for an interview, then it matters.”

The foundation received 7,000 applications in 2014 and out of them 1,117 students received scholarships. In 2015, almost 6,000 students have applied for scholarships so far.

“We have a lot of work to do. Every dollar we raise for scholarships, we give it away,” said Gouveia. “We want to help students who have financial needs, we want to help students with academic excellence, we want to help students who have given back to the community by being involved.”