RBC Foundation gives $200,000 gift to enhance women’s leadership opportunities
London, ON – RBC Foundation has confirmed today a new commitment of $200,000 to Brescia University
College. This empowering gift, as part of RBC’s Future Launch program, will help enhance
women’s leadership practice and further prepare Brescia’s students for ethical decision-making
in socially-responsible careers.
Through their dynamic new collaboration, RBC and Brescia will support students by enhancing opportunities to bring women mentors to campus, increase students’ financial literacy through engaging speakers and tools and create new avenues for experiential learning. RBC’s $200,000 gift aligns with their $500 Million commitment through RBC Future Launch to empower youth for the jobs of tomorrow and ensure that young women gain work experience, grow professional networks and gain skills to enhance their well-being.
“Young people have the confidence, capabilities and the inspiration to reimagine the way our country works and chart a more prosperous and inclusive future for us all,” says Heather Austin, Regional Vice-President, London Lambton for RBC. “As one of Canada’s largest employers and corporate citizens, we recognize that we have a leading role to play in helping young people shape a progressive Canada and we are excited to deepen our relationship with Brescia to enhance the experiences of these future leaders.”
By 2024, RBC will have contributed to system-wide educational and transformational experiences that will generate a ripple effect and contribute to ethical and creative women leaders throughout society. As Canada’s only women’s university, Brescia’s mission and goal of graduating future women leaders who contribute to positive change seamlessly aligns with the RBC Future Launch program.
Beginning with Brescia’s first-year foundation course (Brescia BOLD), RBC’s significant investment will lay the foundation for students to be better prepared for the complexities of our changing world. Through new and relevant experiential learning opportunities, and exposure to diverse women mentors and leaders in their field, students will also gain a stronger sense of purpose, confidence, leadership and a more ethical understanding of social responsibility, civic engagement, collaborative thinking and leadership practice.
Dr. Lauretta Frederking, Brescia’s Vice-Principal and Academic Dean, co-teaches the first-year Brescia BOLD course and addresses its relevance for higher education; “Our students are becoming increasingly more aware of the real-world problems that exist around them. One of our goals through the Brescia BOLD course is for our students to be equipped with the knowledge, tools and networks to find creative solutions to our world’s problems, while contributing to society through ethical decisions, heartfelt compassion and interdisciplinary intelligence.”
In recognition of RBC’s change-making gift, Dr. Frederking goes on to say, “We are grateful to RBC for their generosity, and for their steadfast belief in our students – the women leaders of tomorrow. We are confident that our work together will help challenge, nurture and inspire our students to learn deeply, think creatively and go forward to lead with wisdom, justice and compassion.”
Media and members of the London community are invited to attend an official virtual announcement of RBC’s $200,000 gift for Brescia University College, taking place via Zoom Conference on Thursday, October 1st, 2020 from 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. The announcement will include remarks from Brescia’s Acting Principal, Dr. John Mitchell, Brescia’s Vice Principal & Academic Dean, Dr. Lauretta Frederking, second-year Brescia student Keren Kayembe and Heather Austin, Regional Vice President for the London-Lambton Market at RBC. It will also include a live interactive cheque presentation. To attend the live virtual announcement, please R.S.V.P to Brescia’s Administrative Assistant in Advancement, Seana Roberts at srobe243@uwo.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Rhea Johnson, Director, Communications, Marketing & External Relations at rhea.johnson@uwo.ca or 519-636-9408, or Caitlin Core, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer, ccore@uwo.ca.
Cheryl Brean, Regional Communications, Southwestern Ontario, RBC 905-220-3593
About Brescia
Brescia University College, Canada’s women’s university college, is affiliated with
Western University. The 1,600 women registered as either full- or part-time students
at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in the Schools of Behavioural & Social
Sciences, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Humanities and Leadership & Social Change in
an empowering, compassionate, student-centred and invigorating environment. Degrees
are granted by Western. The Catholic University College welcomes students from all
backgrounds and values diversity. For more current and archived news, a listing of
faculty experts, and photos please visit our Online Media Room, at brescia.uwo.ca/communications/media_relations/media_releases
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led
approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees
who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive
and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world
based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus
on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada,
the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.