UBC doubles fundraising target to help more students realize potential

Blue & Gold Campaign goal reached ahead of schedule, raised to $200 million

Today UBC announced the extension of its Blue & Gold Campaign for Students, doubling the target to $200 million by 2022.

It was less than two years ago, in November 2017, when UBC set an ambitious fundraising target of $100 million in three years to ensure more promising students had the financial help to access life-changing education and enhance the student experience. Two years on, the campaign hit this bold goal through the generosity and support of its donors, said UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa Ono.

More than 6,500 students across both UBC campuses received donor-funded support last year alone—thanks, in part, he said, to the 15,820 donors who have contributed to the campaign including The Jim Pattison Foundation, Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation and The Charles E. Fipke Foundation.

“We’re very encouraged by and grateful for the amount of support we’ve seen for our students,” said Ono, while speaking at Create, UBCO’s student welcome session Tuesday. “Students are at the heart of what we do. Ultimately, we want to ensure that more students get access to the best possible education without overwhelming financial concerns. Our Blue & Gold Campaign for Students goes a long way to help achieve this and demonstrates the positive impact donor support has on our community.”

“We hope that by extending the campaign, more people are inspired to support a larger number of students who can drive lasting and meaningful change and create a better world,” he added.

The Blue & Gold Campaign is the largest fundraising campaign for students in UBC’s 104-year history. It supports a range of student awards, including fellowships, scholarships, bursaries and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Areas of emphasis include awards that support students in need, students from under-represented communities, leadership-based academic awards and awards for graduate students.

For information about the Blue & Gold Campaign for Students, visit: support.ubc.ca/blueandgold

For Blue & Gold donor stories, visit:  support.ubc.ca/category/donor-stories

Blue & Gold recipients

Dominica Patterson, a fourth-year UBCO student in international relations who has just graduated, is an example of a student who has benefited from the Blue & Gold campaign. A Blue & Gold bursary helped support her dream of going to the United Nations as a conference delegate to further her interest in international relations. On track to pursue a career in this field, Dominica is turning thought into action by volunteering closer to home, supporting migrant workers who are experiencing hardship in the Okanagan valley.

“As a student, finding the balance between earning a living and doing well academically is difficult,” said Patterson. “You always feel like you’re making a choice between working extra shifts and getting a really good grade. I was lucky to receive the bursary. I got to learn things that I never would have otherwise. I’m ready to go and make a difference in the world.”

Joban Bal is another example of the positive impact of the Blue & Gold Campaign. Bal is a recent biology graduate who is now embarking on a career in medicine through UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. During his time at UBC, Bal founded the One Blood For Life Foundation in response to the growing need for blood and stem cell donations from a younger and more ethnically diverse population.

“[Donor funding] gave me the opportunity to focus on academics and my community work. I am able to explore my passions and make a contribution to a better world. But more than that – the idea that someone is investing in me and the direction I’m taking, it makes me that much more driven,” said Bal.

Hannah Le Bouder is a second-year behavioural neuroscience student and Presidential Scholar with dreams of eventually pursuing a career in medical research. She grew up in the rural town of Bella Coola, BC. During her time at high school, Le Bouder began a peer counselling group for youth to learn how to provide emotional support and a safe inclusive space for peers who needed it, including survivors of childhood trauma. She was one of eight students in her graduating class.

“Receiving this award made me realize the incredible generosity and humanity behind it. I am humbled and fuelled with a greater desire to make every cent worth it—by making the most of my education and striving to be the best student I can.”

About UBC's Okanagan campus

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.

To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca