Concordia Community Campaign: A great way to help students

 

“Besides teaching, there is nothing more rewarding than investing in young people. They are the future leaders who will sustain our values and reach greater achievements.”

Those are the words of Maria Peluso, CUPFA president, and Umanath Tiwari, CUPFA treasurer, describing the motivation for CUPFA’s $40,000 pledge as the lead gift to the Concordia Community Campaign, which kicks off today at 4 p.m. in the Sir George Williams Faculty Club.

The CUPFA pledge, together with a matching gift by the Office of the Vice-President, External Relations and Secretary General, will establish the $80,000 Concordia Part-Time Endowment Award.

The award will provide $2,000 a year for two years to an undergraduate student, or $1,000 a year for two years for a part-time student, and will be granted based on a high academic standing, financial need and commitment to volunteer work.

Concordia Community Campaign co-chairs Irvin Dudeck and Reeta Tremblay hope the generous CUPFA gift will set the tone for another record year for the campaign. Last year the Concordia Community Campaign raised over $136,000.

Dudeck, who heads the Staff Division, and Tremblay, who leads the Faculties and Libraries Division, are aiming for this year’s donations to reach $150,000 — possibly leading to more scholarship and bursary endowments similar to CUPFA’s — and participation to hit 40 per cent, up from 33 per cent last year.

Tremblay explained, “This type of support is important because it shows the internal community’s confidence in their institution and its mission, students and programs, and sends an important message to those outside the university.”

The Concordia Community Campaign raises money for four areas of university need: student support, faculty development, libraries, and recreation and athletics. Ninety-nine volunteers under the two divisions have signed up to help achieve the goal. Vice chairs of the Staff Division are Joanne Beaudoin, Isabelle Bouvier, Lina Lipscombe, Joan Soares and Sandra Spina.

The Faculty and Libraries Division vice chairs are Lucie Lequin, Paul Fazio, Michel Magnan, Catherine Mackenzie, Maria Peluso and Irene Sendek.

“It is extremely gratifying to see the number of volunteers that have come on board,” Dudeck told CTR, and he’s delighted by the co-operation between the faculty and staff. “The true Concordia spirit will be a shining example for both internal and external donors. That makes this year’s campaign exciting.”

The theme this year is “Your Support is Priceless,” an idea that campaign leaders hope will resonate with potential donors as they consider the invaluable affect student support can offer beyond monetary value.

Concordia’s staff appeal marketing campaigns have won acclaim in recent years.

Last year, the “Plant A Seed and Watch Our Garden Grow!” campaign received a silver medal in the category of Best Fundraising Case Statement and Campaign Materials from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.

More importantly, it helped the campaign achieve new heights. Volunteers and students hope this year the Concordia community will take it even further.