Brandon University’s first major in-person event since the onset of the pandemic was a celebration of supporters to the BU Foundation, whose generous gifts support student and academic success.

More than 130 people gathered yesterday for the BU Foundation’s annual luncheon, hearing directly from some of the students their gifts helped support.

“The generosity and support provided by the BU Foundation is truly a blessing, especially with the difficult and unexpected few years during the pandemic,” said graduating student Nicole Russel in remarks at the luncheon. “I feel so grateful to be a student at a university that has so many supporters who are rooting for the success of BU students and opening many opportunities for us, both during our degree and afterwards.”

The annual luncheon was the first to be held in person since 2019, and the first major in-person event at Brandon University since the Three-Minute Thesis competition in early March 2020, just before the pandemic pivot. The next major in-person event will be Convocation 2022 next week.

The annual Foundation luncheon is an opportunity to recognize donors who generously support operations and education at BU. In 2021, the Foundation raised more than $3.3 million, with $1.9 million going directly to students in the form of scholarships and bursaries.

• Read the report

All told, the BU Foundation now stewards nearly $81.5 million in total assets and has disbursed more than $65 million in support to the University since its inception in 1980. More details of the BU Foundation’s successes are contained in its Annual Report, posted online at BrandonU.ca/Give/Foundation, and shared with members at the luncheon.

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