Community Foundation Grey Bruce (CFGB) is offering two new education grants for local students.
There are 30 opportunities accepting applications through its website until May 31st that will grant over $132,000 locally this year.
SOFEA (Sydenham Optimist Fund for Education Award) was created to encourage community involvement and volunteerism in local students. This year, one applicant will be granted $500 towards their post-secondary tuition. Optimist Heather Lovely says “We’re fundraising as a group and encouraging people to make a donation to help us grow this fund so we can award more students, and have a larger impact on their tuition.” Kate Vanderwielen shares that “we hope that sharing the stories of award winners will encourage younger students to get involved with their community, and we want to give great volunteers an award for their service!”
Also granting for the first time this year is the Bachiu Family Visual Arts Bursary. It will be awarding $500 to a student returning to their post-secondary program in a field that may include ceramics, glass, sculpture, printmaking, textiles and more. Wendy Bachiu worked for CFGB as the Grant & Scholarship Coordinator for many years. She and her family got the fund started thanks to donations from a birthday celebration. Wendy tells us “I knew a bursary would help local students who are continuing their studies in Visual Arts programs. Both my children and I graduated from visual arts, and my husband was an avid photographer, so the focus of the bursary was a very obvious choice.”
Students and parents should visit the CFGB website or give Jen a call to learn more. Information and applications for students can be accessed through the site until May 31st, and the new Pay for School search engine will draw their attention to over 300 additional scholarship opportunities across the province. www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com “We’re accepting applications through our website for Grey Bruce students pursuing their post-secondary education.” says Jen Legge, Grants and Donor Relations Coordinator with CFGB. “There are opportunities for students enrolled in college, university, and trade schools, and not only for students graduating from high school, but also for students and adults returning to their second and third years.”
Stuart Reid says that “Starting an education endowment that will provide an annual scholarship might be something that a family considers as part of estate planning. Your donation can lift Grey Bruce students up by supporting their education, it’s quite a legacy!”
Donations can be made to help grow SOFEA, the Bachiu Family Visual Arts Bursary or any CFGB Endowed Funds through the CFGB website and will receive a charitable receipt when qualified.
