When COVID-19 shut down our campuses in March 2020, our staff and faculty rallied to support our students throughout the crisis.

UFV Advancement nominated the University’s staff and faculty for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Giving Hearts Award in the category of Community Pandemic Response (Business). The AFP will announce the Giving Hearts Award recipients on National Philanthropy Day, celebrated every year on November 15. This global day of giving signifies the importance of working together for the common good.

An individual action or, in this case, one meeting, can significantly influence outcomes — to the tune of $330,000.

When UFV suspended parking fees in April 2020, UFV’s Registrar David Johnston tabled the idea of offering employees the option to redirect their monthly parking fees to the Student Emergency Fund. UFV’s Emergency Operations Committee unanimously adopted this decision.

A total of 162 (including 62 first-time donors) responded to the call, ultimately contributing $54,000 so UFV students could continue their education during the pandemic.

“For anyone who has attended or worked at UFV, the generous donation made by staff and faculty to the Student Emergency Fund comes as no surprise. We are a team comprised of dedicated professionals who care for our students — it’s really the foundation of the university. Coming together at a time of crisis in this way is reflective of our shared values: excellence, inclusivity, community, and integrity.”

 

Marnie Wright
Associate Vice President
Human Resources

Thanks to the initiative of UFV employees, our community was inspired and generously responded in kind.

Social media, newsletters, and story coverage of this initiative motivated others to give, resulting in an outpouring of support from our community, which donated a further $276,000 to support the Student Emergency Fund and the UFV-SUS Food Bank.

“UFV is proud to recognize the incredible generosity and contributions of our staff and faculty,” said Anita Nielsen, UFV Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations.