College, foundation help out students

Yukon College and the Yukon Foundation have once again teamed up for $20,000 worth of scholarship and bursary endowments for the territory's students.

Yukon College and the Yukon Foundation have once again teamed up for $20,000 worth of scholarship and bursary endowments for the territory’s students.

This year, the college created a fund of $10,000 made available through the foundation for matched funding, and three endowments were established totalling $20,000 through several individual donors.

According to Yukon College president Terry Weninger, the success of the initiative encouraged both parties to renew the agreement and another $10,000 in matching funds was be made available July 1, 2008.

“The college is committed to financially supporting our students, thus we encouraged the creation of endowments by offering matching donations,“ he said.

Set up in 1980 under the Yukon Foundation Act, in its 28-year history the foundation has given more than $1 million toward the pursuit of post secondary education and Yukon-based education projects.

According to foundation chair John Firth, between $150,000 and $160,000 in scholarship and bursary grants were awarded to approximately 150 students in 2007.

“We’re the only charitable foundation in the Yukon that has its own act,“ said Firth

“So while we’re subject to the rules and conditions of the act, what gives us an advantage is that we’re going to be around forever.“

Bequests, memorials, family endowments and corporate donations make up the bulk of the foundation’s $4-million trust.