Thompson Rivers University in Williams Lake will welcome the community to a ‘Splash of Colour’ gala fundraiser on March 2 to raise money for bursaries for local students.
TD Bank is the presenting sponsor of the event starting with cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and a dance at 9 p.m. with March Hare from Vancouver.
The fundraising goal of the gala is $50,000 for bursaries for students at the Williams Lake campus, says Jay Cheek, treasurer for the 2012 TRU gala event, and chair of the 2013 fundraiser.
Last year the event raised $40,000, even though organizers only had six weeks to put the party together, Cheek says.
There were 10 concurrent studies awards of $500 each given to Grade 11/12 students enrolling in university courses while pursuing secondary education, 10 Williams Lake TRU Grit entrance awards of $2,000 each given to students in Grade 11 with a grade average of 70 per cent who wrote a letter outlining why they want to attend university.
“This year we had longer to plan and have high hopes for a very successful event. The March Hare Band from Vancouver is coming back this year: they do a great show,” Cheek explained. “There will be a silent and a live auction and Ramada Inn is catering the meal.”
The idea for the gala originated when a handful of business people from the community and TRU director Ray Sanders started brainstorming ways to ‘grow’ the university, raise its profile in the community and encourage the attendance of international students.”
“It makes perfect sense for our community to support our university—giving our young people the best start and the best options possible. It’s a huge benefit for our local young people to have the option of their first year or two in their own community. They can save about $8,000 a year,” he continued.
“I think that having TRU here is an untapped opportunity. You can take your LPN here, and the first two years of a business degree. I’d like to see a full degree program here, and for that to happen we need to increase enrollment. Having bursaries available and offering incentive for international students is a positive step in the right direction.”
He said that the gala will be a fun party with first-class food and entertainment. “We want to showcase our Williams Lake university,” he said. “This is a good cause and a good time and all money raised stays in our community to support local students.”
He added that a capacity crowd of 240 people is expected and nearly half of the tickets are sold. Tickets are $95 per person and are available at TRU, at RH2 Foodservices and at PMT Accounting. For more information contact Betty Turatus at 250-392-8057 or bturatus@tru.ca