The Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville are pleased to announce the establishment of the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville Endowment Fund at Vancouver Island University (VIU) with founding donations of $32,000 from the Rotary Club of Nanaimo and $16,000 from the VIU Foundation to support students pursuing higher education at VIU. The endowment fund will provide one or more awards that recognize and support students who have demonstrated academic achievement as well as service to their community. The minimum value of each award will be $1,000 through a tuition credit, to a maximum of $2,000.
Education is an important area of focus for Rotary. The endowment fund at VIU enables local Rotary clubs as well as individual Rotarians to combine their donations for greater impact through one fund. Contributions to the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville Endowment Fund are also welcomed by all members of the community who wish to support post-secondary education at VIU. The first award from the new fund will be disbursed for the fall 2023 semester. As the annual disbursable revenue grows, more awards will be available. The VIU Foundation will manage the endowment fund and disbursements will be determined by VIU Financial Aid & Awards and VIU Advancement and Alumni Relations.
To do good in the world is a core value of Rotary International, demonstrated daily by Rotarians giving back to their communities through volunteering, fundraising and other forms of service. Students enrolled at the VIU Nanaimo campus in any post-secondary program, second year or above, who apply for a Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville Award must also demonstrate a commitment to their community through volunteerism. This could include fundraising for charities, mentoring and coaching, assisting those with special needs and participating in environmental or food security programs.
In addition to post-secondary education, Rotary supports primary and secondary education through donations to schools, particularly those which face financial challenges to deliver programs essential for students’ personal and academic growth. With a strong foundational education, students in our community have a better chance of moving on to post-secondary studies.
Quotes
"On behalf of the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville, we are delighted to build on our commitment to education in our community through the new Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville Endowment Fund. Thank you to the VIU Foundation for their generous contribution to our endowment. Together, we are helping students achieve their educational goals through this award."
Keith McFarlane, President, Rotary Club of Nanaimo
“The establishment of this new scholarship created by the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville is a testament to the Rotary Club’s commitment to building a strong culture of philanthropy and volunteerism in our community. This scholarship will inspire students to build strong connections with our community and open their minds to fresh perspectives as they are exposed to community volunteerism.”
Richard Horbachewski, Executive Director, VIU Foundation
Photo, left to right: Amanda Chacon Brown, VIU Student; Seda Ozer, VIU Student; Ken Hammer, Assistant Governor, Area 40, Rotary; Amanda Greenland, Manager of Advancement Services; Lucie Gosselin, Treasurer, Rotary Club of Nanaimo; Lee Rowley, President, Rotary Club of Lantzville; Keith McFarlane, President, Rotary Club of Nanaimo; Marika Grabowski, Advancement Gift Officer; Veronica Szick, President, Rotary Club of Nanaimo Oceanside; Riya Rajesh, VIU Student; Krystal Huang, VIU Student and Levi Alonso, VIU Student
