$100,000 donation from an anonymous donor will support tuition for former youth in care

Jan. 9, 2015

An anonymous donor has pledged $100,000 to match funds already set aside by the university to aid students who were formerly in care. This brings total funding for the two-year bursary pilot program up to $217,000.

The university initiated this pilot program in response to a challenge put to B.C.’s post-secondary schools by the representative for children and youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. She is campaigning for tuition waivers to give an extra boost to former foster children, who statistically face dire academic, employment and poverty outcomes. 

The university initially set out to support up to five students with up to four years of tuition fees waived. With this generous pledge, UVic can extend the program to double the number of students.

"These are students who have had a lot of hurdles, and so we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to venture into post-secondary and have the resources to do so," pointed out Lori Nolt, Director of Student Awards and Financial Aid, in an interview with the Times Colonist.

The university's long-term goal is to create an endowment for this award, which will require support and partnership from government, the private sector and individuals. Donors interested in contributing to the Youth in Care Award fund can contact Lynne Milnes, Development Officer, at 250-472-5031 or .

You can read about the experience of one of the recipients, Kaeli Rose Sort, in this Times Colonist article.