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Lindor Reynolds gift to students surpasses goal

Helping more former foster children receive the gift of educationLR

WINNIPEG, MB – University of Winnipeg alumni and award-winning Winnipeg Free Press columnist, the late Lindor Reynolds, will be helping disadvantaged youth receive a university education for many years to come.  In just one week, her special Opportunity Fund gift to UWinnipeg has not only reached its $10,000 goal, it has raised more than double that amount and today stands at $23,020.

The Winnipeg Free Press worked with the University of Winnipeg Foundation to establish the Lindor Reynolds Youth-in-Care Tuition Waiver Bursary, a program pioneered by UWinnipeg to ensure that former foster children can achieve their dreams and pursue a post-secondary education. UWinnipeg covers tuition costs and the Province of Manitoba Authorities cover all additional living expenses for youth on extensions of care, including housing, textbooks and meal plans. There are more than 9,500 children and youth in care in Manitoba. The majority are First Nations and Metis, and it is estimated that less than 5% have had the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education.

More than two dozen students are now enrolled in UWinnipeg classes since the tuition waiver program was introduced in September 2012. Numerous post-secondary institutions across Manitoba and Canada are replicating the program.

“Lindor continues to touch our community in a real and meaningful way, and among her many accomplishments, we can add this final gift to the next generation of scholars,” said Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “She continues to be a remarkable role-model.”

Reynolds graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from UWinnipeg in 1979 and went on to become a columnist of high repute with a wide and loyal following. She won a National Newspaper Award in 2011, was nominated three times for the Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service, which is the Governor General’s commendation for national public-service journalism. In 1999, she received UWinnipeg’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Through a crowd-sourcing appeal initiated just last week, the hope was to raise $10,000 by January 2015 for the Lindor Reynolds bursary. Today that has more than doubled and donations continue.

If you would like to contribute to Lindor Reynolds  bursary, please make a gift here and share this story. Every gift – be it $2 or $2,000 – makes a difference. Gifts are tax deductible.

MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Senior Communications Specialist, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca