Seneca College RED 2020 - 37

GIVING
BACK

2,317
Number of donor-funded
awards in 2019/2020

Financial boost for future
essential workers

Foundations
look forward

SENECA'S PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER

PHOTO: IAN PATTERSON

(PSW) and

nursing programs are
preparing students to be on
the front lines of the COVID-19
response.
Graduates from these programs will be providing patient
care at long-term care homes,
hospitals and private homes. To
get there, however, students must
be able to afford their classes.
The statistics are sobering: a
recent CIBC poll states that 87
per cent of postsecondary students in Canada are concerned
about how they will pay for
tuition and living expenses in
the coming term. Fifty-one per
cent worry about being unable
to attend school next year.
The W. Garfield Weston
Foundation and the Frank
H. Hori Charitable Foundation
recognize the value of the
work health-care students will
perform upon graduation.
In appreciation, they have
committed financial support
that will help PSW and nursing
students complete their studies.

" The funding I received
has helped relieve my financial
burden. I want to express my
appreciation and gratitude for
the support, " PSW student Ellen
Reeves says. " Financial support
is like a springboard, motivating
you to achieve your goals. "
As a mature student and
single parent, Ms. Reeves credits
their donations with helping
her stay in school.	
" Personal support workers
and nursing students will face
a challenging work environment
upon graduation, especially now
during the pandemic, " Wendy
Rebanks from the W. Garfield
Weston Foundation says. " Our
foundation wants to encourage the next generation of these
heroic, essential workers by
providing financial aid so they
can complete their studies. "
This foundation has been

supporting the PSW program
since its inception in 2015,
providing bursaries to nearly 100
students. They have now expanded their support to include
30 new awards for nursing
students.
The Frank H. Hori Charitable
Foundation understands the
critical role of PSWs. Upon
hearing that students may not
return to complete their studies
in September because of financial concerns, they immediately
established 10 new awards.
" Empowering youth is one of
our mandates, and it is often not
financially viable for all to access
education, " Donna Hori says.
As one of the foundation's
trustees, she believes education
is vital for our youth.
" With our donation, we hope
to make it possible for more PSW
students to enter the field. It

takes a special person to be a PSW
and they deserve the support. "
Both foundations have also
helped equip the PSW practice
labs on campus where students
have access to the tools they
will use in the field.
Ms. Reeves says the support
of the foundations will allow her
to make a positive contribution.
" My goal is to help people
when they are sick and vulnerable. That's the impact I want to
have on our community. "

To learn more about how Seneca is
supporting students affected by
the pandemic or to donate, please
visit senecacollege.ca/covidrelief.
Pictured above: Ellen Reeves.

RED

2020

37
http://www.senecacollege.ca/covidrelief
Seneca College RED 2020

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