Jim Clark, President of Colio Estate Wines, attended the Board of Governors meeting at Loyalist College on March 12th to present the College with a cheque for $7,150 for student financial assistance. “We’re delighted that Loyalist College is part of this program,” he said. “We’re very thankful for the colleges and this is a way of giving back.”
The donation is the result of a successful and unique program which was established by Colio Wines in discussion with Colleges Ontario President Linda Franklin. The winery agreed to provide 25 cents for every bottle of “Girls’ Night Out” VQA wines sold at the LCBO between July 1 and December 31, 2008, and to donate these funds to support female students at select community colleges across the province. The sales during that period totaled just over $28,600, and this amount was divided among four colleges.
The program, called “Girls Helping Girls” – involved three colleges chosen for their proximity to the VQA wine regions – including Loyalist College (Prince Edward County). Other colleges benefiting include St. Clair (Lake Erie North Shore) and Niagara (Niagara Peninsula). George Brown College in Toronto was also included, because of its hospitality and culinary program.
Recipients of the funding will be second-year female students who have demonstrated proficiency and commitment to their programs. The donation to Loyalist will be matched through the Ontario Trust for Student Support to create an endowment fund of $14,300 for the Colio Estate Bursary.
This fund will be administered through the Loyalist College Foundation and will provide support for Loyalist students throughout the future.
Mr. Clark was thanked by Chair of the Board of Governors, Margaret Werkhoven, College President Maureen Piercy, and by June Surgey, Chair of the Loyalist College Foundation Board.
“This support is outstanding,” said President Maureen Piercy. “We want to commend Colio Estate Wines for setting up a fund which will provide ongoing support for Loyalist students. It is very much appreciated.”
Media Contact: Dianne Spencer, Executive Director, College Advancement & External Relations, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2235 or e-mail: dspencer@loyalistc.on.ca