George Brown College launches "Success at Work" - Largest fundraising campaign in its history

Two unprecedented gifts highlight college commitment to pursue new funding sources

TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The George Brown College Foundation today announced Success at Work, an ambitious $60 million private sector fundraising campaign to support the college's $250 million expansion vision. This comprehensive, multi-year campaign aims to raise funds to support student learning and capital growth.

"With today's announcements of two significant gifts, the campaign is off to an outstanding start," said Graeme Page, President of the George Brown College Foundation. "This is a pivotal moment for our students, alumni, supporters, corporate partners and anyone who recognizes the value of a college education as a pathway to the workforce."

In recent years, George Brown College has reached its enrolment capacity and seen record applications for its programs such as health sciences, business and construction and engineering technologies. At the same time, Canadian employers, faced with a shortage of skilled workers, are increasingly seeking graduates with specific capabilities that only colleges like George Brown can provide. To bridge these demands, the Success at Work campaign focuses on two principal goals: tripling student financial support by increasing scholarships and bursaries and expanding campus capacity by adding more spaces for students.

"More than at any other time in our history, we are relying on the support of private donors to ensure we are able to continue to increase the volume of graduates we prepare to meet Ontario's skills shortage," said Anne Sado, President of George Brown College.

The campaign is slated to run through 2020, but is already a quarter of the way toward its $60 million private fundraising goal thanks in part to a precedent-setting $4 million gift from the John C. and Sally Horsfall Eaton Foundation. In recognition this extraordinary contribution -- the largest individual gift in the college's history -- George Brown's nursing school will be named The Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing.

"As a former nurse, I recognize the critical role George Brown plays as an educator of nurses and other health sciences students. I am proud to be part of the Success at Work campaign and encourage others to join forces with the college to help them reach their goal," said Sally Horsfall Eaton, the inaugural Chancellor of George Brown College.

An additional first-time milestone for the campaign has come in the form of a historic pledge by the George Brown College Student Association of a projected $6 million over 10 years, primarily to fund scholarships and bursaries. It is the largest multi-year pledge in George Brown history. The commitment builds on a long history of the Student Association supporting the Foundation, having contributed more than $500,000 towards bursaries and scholarships over the past several years.

"To students, this pledge represents an opportunity to work collectively to support one another in the most direct and relevant way possible, by providing financial assistance in the form of bursaries and scholarships," said Mohammad Ali Aumeer, Director of Education and Equity, Student Association of George Brown College. "We are excited to work on this student-led initiative."

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.georgebrown.ca/successatwork

About George Brown College

Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. The college offers programs from its three main campuses located across the downtown core, including its newest location at the Toronto waterfront, which opened in September 2012. George Brown offers 148 full-time and 1,600 continuing education programs across a wide variety of professions to a student body of approximately 64,000 (including those enrolled in full-time, part-time and continuing education programs). Students can earn diplomas, post-graduate certificates, industry accreditations, apprenticeships and four-year bachelor degrees. 


SOURCE: George Brown College

Joyann Callender
Manager Media Relations
George Brown College
416-415-5000, ext. 3159
[email protected]