Join Georgian on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 1:00 as it breaks ground on the Georgian Centre for Health and Wellness. This event will take place on the sports field in front of the Barrie Campus Administration building, and be followed by an indoor health fair run by Georgian students.

FUTURE SPECIAL EVENTS:

Georgian Dream Catcher Gala 2010 – click here for info!

Georgian Golf Classic 2010 - click here for info!

Third party events – click here for info!

Karen MacDonald, Associate Dean of Health Sciences (left) and student Maurice Rondelez (right) accept a cheque from the Lions Club of Barrie at the Barrie Campus of Georgian College.

Georgian College is one step closer to building the Georgian Centre for Health and Wellness thanks to the vision and support of the Lions Club of Barrie. Members of the volunteer service organization recently announced a $250,000 donation to the project. The monies will be directed specifically to help build a community-accessible opticianry health teaching clinic in the proposed new facility.

“The Lions have an international mandate to stand behind initiatives that work to end preventable blindness, and we believe this donation will help countless numbers of local students and residents in need of quality and affordable vision health care,” said Carol Ellis, Lions Club of Barrie president. “It will also give students a leading-edge environment to learn in, with the benefit of working on real patients. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

The clinic will also offer the services of an on-site optometrist and optician, and  storefront that retails eye wear and offers eye wear consultations.

This will be one of a number of teaching health clinics available in the Georgian Centre for Health and Wellness, a 165,000-square-foot addition planned for the Barrie Campus.

And thanks to a $15,000 donation from the Lions Club of Barrie in 2008, Georgian College Opticianry students are eligible to apply for an award or scholarship to help fund their education. The donated funds were set up as an endowment through the Georgian College Awards and Scholarship program, with the interest being distributed to deserving students.

The donation was made in memory of long-time Barrie optometrist and Lions Club of Barrie member Dr. Noel G. Stephenson.

These donations benefit Georgian’s Power of Education fundraising campaign, an initiative to raise $25 million for the expansion and improvement of key Georgian programs including those in health sciences, hospitality and tourism, engineering technology and awards and scholarships.

To date, Georgian is more than halfway to its $25-million goal.

Lisa Verhagen Eveleigh, MBA, CFRE

• Sets overall strategic direction for fundraising programs
• Creates plans and budgets for fundraising
• Board management
• Capital Campaign planning and development
• Financial management
• (705) 728-1968 ext. 1212

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“Being a partner with Georgian College means supporting its growth, and that is why it made sense for us to donate to the Power of Education campaign,” said Gajria. “Helping Georgian succeed not only benefits our business, it helps the community as a whole and that’s an investment we’re proud to make.”

This donation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how Johnson supports Georgian College. While alumni benefit from the Johnson/Georgian affinity partnership through savings on insurance premiums, Georgian also receives an additional donation from Johnson Insurance on every policy that is sold to alumni. This money is directed to Georgian’s Alumni Association to help build on the success of the current alumni services and benefits. To date, over 2200 Georgian alumni have purchased a policy through Johnson and many additional requests for quotes are coming in regularly. Gajria predicts a minimum of $125,000 will be given to the Alumni Association over five years through this alumni affinity program. 

In addition, Johnson:
• has committed to purchasing a table worth $5000 at each Georgian College Dream Catcher Gala for the next five galas
• has committed to participating in Georgian’s Governors’ Circle by donating $1000 per year for five years to the College
• has agreed to support the Georgian Golf Classic, a fundraising event for student scholarships, by donating $25,000 in sponsorship dollars over five years to the event
• will give an additional $5,000 per year for five years towards sponsorship of alumni events
• offers Georgian staff discounted rates on insurance.

“This totals over $280,000 in financial gifts, and we are thrilled with this level of support and so proud to be a partner with Johnson,” said Lisa Eveleigh, Director of Development and Alumni Relations. “This affiliation is one that works – for alumni, for Georgian and for Johnson.”

A recent $1.7-million donation from an anonymous donor resulted in the campaign goal being met – the largest single financial gift ever given to Georgian in its 41 year history.

The new campus facility opened in September 2007 at 111 Wellington St., backed by many generous donations in the first year of the campaign from community leaders. The Town of Bracebridge donated the building and the land to Georgian for one dollar as part of a long term agreement between both parties.

“We’re thrilled about this incredible donation, and about achieving our
$2.5-million campaign goal, and are so grateful to those who helped us get there. This support exemplifies how greatly Georgian is valued in the community,” said Jerry Moroz, volunteer chairperson of the Muskoka campaign.

Bonnie DeWitt, Muskoka Campus manager, said although the campaign has reached completion, Georgian will always continue to build on the success of its new facility where upgrading, certificates and diplomas in skilled trades, health science, hospitality and tourism, and business programs are offered.

“This is big news for our campus, and we are ecstatic and very thankful to those who have helped us meet our goal,” said DeWitt. “The completion of the campaign, however, does not mean we are done improving our campus. We will always continue to seek ways to expand our range of programs and services for the benefit of our students, employers and the community.”

DeWitt said an immediate goal for the campus is to seek support for the awards and scholarships program, helping more local students pay for their studies.

This is the most recent success for the Georgian College Power of Education fundraising campaign, an initiative to raise $25 million to grow and develop key programs including health sciences, engineering technology, hospitality and tourism, and Georgian’s University Partnership Centre.  To date, $8.5 million has been raised thanks to so many generous Georgian supporters.

For more information contact:

Bonnie DeWitt
Campus Manager, Muskoka Campus
Georgian College
(705) 646-7629, ext. 4810
bdewitt@georgianc.on.ca

Lisa Eveleigh, MBA, CFRE
Director, Office of Development & Alumni Relations
Georgian College
(705) 728-1968, ext. 1212
leveleigh@georgianc.on.ca

Amidst more than 300 community leaders, Georgian College staff, and its students, RBC Royal Bank announced a $250,000 donation to the College’s Power of Education fundraising campaign for growth and program development.

“This money is to be directed to help fund the building of a new Georgian College Centre for Health and Wellness, where future generations of health care leaders will begin their journey to successful careers,” said Anna Cheaney, RBC’s Regional Vice President for the Barrie Muskoka Region. “It’s no secret our region needs more health care professionals to offset the number of retirements about to take place in the health services industry. RBC is dedicated to making a positive contribution to our community, and we are very proud of this donation to Georgian because we know it will benefit local residents needing health care for decades to come.”

Brian Tamblyn, President and CEO of Georgian, said Georgian is extremely grateful for the donation, which will have an immensely positive impact on plans for the new facility. The 165,000-square-foot Georgian College Centre for Health and Wellness proposed for the Barrie campus will house student teaching health clinics open to the public needing health care, as well as leading-edge laboratories, and technology-enhanced classrooms. The building will also result in additional enrolment space for 3,000 students, many who wish to pursue education in health, wellness and science-related studies, and allow Georgian to expand its enrolment space in its very successful University Partnership Centre, which currently has 2,500 students pursuing degree studies in Barrie and Orillia.

The RBC donation is the latest gift from a business leader to the Georgian College Power of Education campaign, an initiative to raise $25 million for the expansion and improvement of key programs including health sciences, engineering technology, skilled trades, hospitality and tourism and awards and scholarships.

This announcement was in addition to and strengthened by the support given by each individual who purchased a ticket to the Gala, as well as those who participated in the silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the Dream Catcher Gala totaled over $140,000, which will directly benefit Georgian’s student awards and scholarships program. Georgian is a leader in the Ontario College system for the largest value of awards and scholarships available to its students.

“We are very fortunate to have so many individuals and business stand behind our students,” said Tamblyn. “Through the support of our community, Georgian College will continue to offer our learners the best, most relevant post-secondary education in this province, helping them with their goals for successful careers and lives.”

For more information contact:

John Lister, Manager
Power of Education campaign
Georgian College
Cell: 321-6435
(705) 728-1968, ext. 1254
jlister@georgianc.on.ca

Anna Cheaney
Regional Vice President
RBC Barrie/Muskoka
Georgian College
(705) 734-4446

• Campaign team unites
• 2007 donor thank-you
• Picasso at Georgian
• Awards save students
• Marine industry gives $1.2 million

Download Spring 2008 GRADitude Magazine

“Skilled workers, particularly engineering technologists and technicians, are extremely important to the future of our business at Honda,” said Joe Sperduti, VP and GM, Administration for Honda of Canada Mfg. “By supporting the Power of Education campaign, and the automotive related engineering technology programs, we are in fact contributing to the education of the next generation of our workforce, and that is an investment we’re proud to make.”

Bob Emptage, Dean of Engineering Technology, said Honda’s contribution, a leading gift, will make a positive impact on students’ educational experiences and on the quality of the programs. Georgian is seeking to raise $1.5 million in total for the benefit of its Engineering Technology programs. While many engineering technology programs in Ontario have experienced a decline in enrolment, Georgian has focused on new marketing initiatives and program enhancements to ensure it can provide the highly skilled workforce demanded by Ontario’s manufacturing industry.

“We’re very grateful for this support. Through the help of business leaders like Honda, Georgian will be able to attract and train our growing number of students on current equipment that mirrors what is found in the industry,” he said. “In the engineering technology programs, and in our workforce retraining, it is crucial we are teaching the most up-to-date technologies to ensure our graduates can make a seamless transition into the workforce. This is not only beneficial for our graduates and transitioning workers, but it is also important to employers such as Honda at a time when process improvements and manufacturing efficiency is paramount.”

The Power of Education Quick Facts

• The Georgian College Power of Education campaign is an initiative to initially raise $17 million for the purpose of expanding and improving engineering technology, health and science, hospitality and tourism, skilled trades, and awards and scholarships programs. To date, $3.5 million has been raised thanks to many Georgian supporters.
• The success of the campaign will mean Georgian can respond to the challenge of the unprecedented growth rate in enrolment, which exceeds provincial averages by several per cent. As well, with increased facility space and the revitalization of some equipment, the College will be able to graduate more qualified candidates for industries in Ontario that are experiencing a critical skills shortage.
• The campaign is being led by a dedicated 18-member campaign cabinet, made up largely of volunteers who are local, national and international business leaders.
• Tom Ambeau Sr. a former Georgian College Board of Governors’ Chair, and a successful business leader, is chairing the cabinet team. The Hon. William G. Davis is the honorary chair of the cabinet.

To arrange media interviews, please contact:

Kelly Pottage
Communications Coordinator
The Power of Education Campaign
Georgian College
(705) 728-1968, ext. 1878
kpottage@georgianc.on.ca

Colin Fisher
Administrative Coordinator
Communications and Community Relations
Honda of Canada Mfg.
(705) 435-5561
colin_fisher@hcm.honda.com

Muskoka Lumber Building Supplies has made a generous donation to Georgian in support of the new Muskoka campus in Bracebridge where programs such as Carpentry Techniques and Apprenticeship opportunities are offered.

“We are fortunate here in Muskoka because many in the future construction and skilled trade workforce are being trained through Georgian College. By supporting the Muskoka campus, we’re making a positive impact on our community and our industry,” said Paul Donaldson, owner/operator of Muskoka Lumber Building Supplies. “Our donation is essentially a win-win gift.”

Bonnie J. DeWitt, Head of Apprenticeship Training and the Muskoka Campus manager, says the funds will directly benefit the students of today, and the future. The new location has allowed Georgian to double the size of its skilled trades workshop, and increase apprenticeship training by 100 per cent.

“We’re thrilled by this donation. By investing into our local campus, Muskoka Lumber is investing into the future of all our students, and Muskoka, and we are very thankful for this gift,” said DeWitt.

This is the latest donation to the Georgian College Power of Education Campaign, an initiative to raise $17 million for the expansion and improvement of key programs including skilled trades, health sciences, engineering technology, hospitality and tourism and awards and scholarships.

For more information contact:

John Lister, Manager
The Power of Education Campaign
Georgian College
(705) 728-1968, ext. 1254
jlister@georgianc.on.ca