Seneca College - RED 2017 - 41

GIVING
BACK

2/3

Seneca full-time students who
need financial support to pursue
their studies.

King Township Women of Influence

PHOTO: ALEX BRUCE

A circle of strength

IN RECENT YEARS, giving circles
have ignited the philanthropic
landscape in North America.
By bringing together like-minded
individuals with similar ambitions, giving circles provide an
opportunity for donors to pool
finances and support their communities with a greater impact.
In 2016, Seneca formed its
first giving circle, the King
Township Women of Influence.
United through their affinity
for the King community, this
group of women is striving to
make a difference for the students at King Campus.
The giving circle is also an
opportunity for women to network and build relationships.
The diverse group includes
entrepreneurs, leaders in business, local councillors and senior
members of major organizations.
"Providing young people
with a postsecondary education
at an institution that is part of
their community is important
for keeping young adults in our
community," says Avia Eek,
Councillor, Ward 6, King
Township, Seneca alumna and
member of the giving circle.
"By participating in the giving
circle, we have the opportunity
to make a positive financial
impact on the students, programs, services and facilities
at King Campus."
The giving circle meets three
or four times per year. This past
summer, the circle met in King
to assess pitch presentations on

three projects that they could
choose to support with this year's
funding. After the presentations,
the women came together to
discuss the initiatives, and they
decided that they wanted their
gift to fund the project that
would have the greatest impact
on students and the community.
While a majority vote could
have chosen the winner, the
decision was unanimous: The
Veterinary Technician program's
pain-free practice project was
awarded the inaugural grant.
Simulated animal models will
be purchased for the program,
allowing students to practise
veterinary skills, such as administering injections and taking
blood, on a model before performing them on a live animal.
This fall, the giving circle
will visit King Campus to see the
impact of their gift firsthand.
They will tour the Veterinary
Technician program's facilities

and watch the students practise
their techniques with the
animal models.
"How amazing that women,
who were relative strangers,
are willing to come together,
pool their financial resources and
create opportunities for students that did not exist before,"
says Kelly Mathews, Manager of
Community Recreation, Camps
and the Outdoor Centre at
Seneca and one of the first members of the circle. "This happens
not because anyone has to be
here, but because we believe
that by working together, we
can have a positive impact on
the academic experience of the
students in our community."

For more information or to join the
giving circle, contact Joy Gooding:
(416) 491-5050 ext. 77945
joy.gooding@senecacollege.ca.
Or visit: senecacollege.ca/king/
giving-circle.html

By participating in the
giving circle, we have
the opportunity to make
a positive financial
impact on the students,
programs, services and
facilities at King Campus.

The inaugural cohort of the
King Township Women of
Influence, pictured at their first
voting meeting in June 2017.

RED

2017 41
http://www.senecacollege.ca/king/
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