Alumni association donates $800,000 to support student-focused initiatives

The Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association has donated $800,000 to enhance student wellness and success initiatives at Laurier. The gift, announced during Laurier’s Waterloo campus Homecoming, will provide critical funding in four areas:

• $350,000 for student scholarships and bursaries.
• $270,000 to enhance campus safety, well-being and support for students through counselling, public education, a 24-hour support line and other resources.
• $150,000 toward the Nadjiwan Kaandossiwin Gamik Indigenous Student Centre. The funds will help redevelop a heritage home on Laurier’s Waterloo campus into a space for Laurier’s Indigenous student community.
• $30,000 for the makerspaces program, which encourage creativity and enhance the student experience.

The alumni association, comprised of more than 104,000 graduates, has a longstanding history of philanthropy and mentorship. The association has contributed more than $1.9 million to support capital projects and student scholarships at Laurier since 2009. The financial commitment to the university was funded by revenue the association receives through its alumni GradVantages partnerships.

To read more articles from the 2019 Fall-Winter print edition of Laurier Campus magazine and new alumni stories between print editions, visit campusmagazine.wlu.ca.