BetterPlanet Donor Wall Grows Again
June 04, 2013 - News Release
The University of Guelph has unveiled nine new additions to its donor wall in Rozanski Hall.
Display plaques honour donors to the BetterPlanet Project -- the University’s $200-million fundraising campaign – and outline how the University is addressing global issues and needs through teaching and research.
“The leaders we are recognizing today share our vision and belief in the power of education to create change,” said president Alastair Summerlee during an event Monday evening.
Donors highlighted are:
- Robert Whitelaw, former president of Agrico Canada Ltd.: $500,000 to the McLaughlin Library’s Archival and Special Collections for renovations and expansion;
- Ted Morwick, an honorary U of G graduate and lawyer-turned-businessman: $1 million for arts scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students;
- TD Bank Financial Group: $750,000 to create the TD Agricultural Policy Research Fund to study new farm policies;
- Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.: $500,000 for an innovation fund for research on grocery retailing and food service, technology, and health and wellness;
- IAMS Canada Inc./Procter & Gamble Inc.: $828,811 for teaching veterinary students;
- William (Bill) and Dorothy Campbell, Order of OAC members: cumulative gifts of $500,000 for graduate scholarships;
- The Jean Rich Foundation: $500,000 in cumulative gifts for students;
- The late Marion Tripp: $587,500 for graduate scholarships in ecosystem approaches to global health; and
- The late George Whitehead: $573,491 estate gift for students and research to improve rural community veterinary medicine.
Launched in 2010, the BetterPlanet project has raised more than $164 million. Tye Burt, campaign chair, said $28.2 million was raised in fiscal 2012/2013 alone, the highest annual fundraising amount in University history.
The campaign has attracted more than 60,000 donors, including 16,000 grads. About one in four gifts go to student support.
The donor wall in Rozanski Hall was unveiled last September at the campaign’s halfway point. The 42-foot-long installation depicts a mural map of Canada painted by five local artists, along with columns depicting the BetterPlanet Project themes of food, environment, health and community.
The campaign is scheduled to end in 2014 during the University’s 50th anniversary.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca; or Kevin Gonsalves, Ext. 56982, or kgonsalves@uoguelph.ca.
