HTM executive-in-residence donates money to help disadvantaged youth pursue post-secondary education
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Family and Children's Services (FCS) of Guelph and Wellington will benefit from a donation from this semester's executive-in-residence at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).
Jack MacDonald, CEO of Compass Group Canada, who spent three days on campus last week sharing his expertise with HTM students and faculty, donated $1,000 to FCS, including a $250 honorarium he received for participating in the executive-in-residence program.
HTM, its student council and Prof. Alun Joseph, dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, added another $1,000 to the donation, bringing the total to $2,000. MacDonald presented a cheque to FCS at a dinner held in his honour Nov. 2.
The money will help fund the post-secondary education of a youth in the care of FCS who is graduating from high school in June, says FCS executive director Moe Brubacher.
“We're really excited that this is available because most of the kids in our care have experienced some kind of trauma, abuse or neglect or family conflict, and it can be a challenge for them to succeed academically.”
Brubacher says the recipient will use the funds to pursue a university or college education in computer science.
“This young person has worked extremely hard to overcome difficult life circumstances and deserves this kind of a break. We are deeply indebted to Mr. MacDonald and others for their generosity. Their thoughtfulness will make a huge difference in this young person's life.”
MacDonald credits his giving nature to the influence of his mother, a nurse who worked in a ward for premature infants. He says she taught him to be caring and to look for opportunities to help others.
“I felt there was some good that could be done with the money, and I hope it serves this student well,” he says. “It's great to be able to give someone who's disadvantaged an opportunity to succeed and have a chance to get a head start.”
MacDonald grew up in Halifax as one of six children and has worked to create a successful food-service company with more than 18,000 employees at 1,600 locations nationwide. He's spent 30 years at senior executive levels at a number of Canadian and U.S. corporations and has volunteered to serve on the board of organizations such as the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
