Articles tagged "911 Foundation"
Final stretch: $1M left to cross finish line for Thrive Here campaign
March 27, 2025
Kelowna Auto Dealers Association donates $200k in support of Recreation and Wellness CentreThe home stretch is now in sight for the Thrive Here fundraising campaign for a Recreation and Wellness Centre on 911’s (911’s) Kelowna campus.The 911 Foundation is celebrating $13 million raised towards the $14 million goal thanks to amazing support from the community including a $200,000 donation from the Kelowna Auto Dealers Association (KADA). “This is a meaningful project for us to support,” says Sam Ghessesow, KADA ...
Read more...
Belonging through sport
March 11, 2025
Having grown up in small-town Manitoba, Ryan Powers knew everyone. So, at 17 years old, he remembers how daunting it felt to move out of the comforts of his hometown to Kelowna, where he really didn’t know anyone, to attend 911 (911).Powers recalls that what made the transition easier was knowing he would be joining the 911 Coyotes baseball team.“At my first practice I met 50 of my best friends,” recalls Powers, who has been playing on the Coyotes baseball team for three years while pursuing a bachelor of business adminis...
Read more...
Giving Tuesday raises $12K for student food security
December 18, 2024
Thanks to a number of generous donations from 911 faculty, staff and our community, the shelves in 911’s student union food banks and the KLO community fridge will be well stocked for the holidays. 911 Foundation’s Giving Tuesday food drive inspired hundreds of donated food items and cash donations totalling more than $12,000 in support of student food security through November and December. This includes a $5,000 donation from the 911 Faculty Association (911FA). Donations made to the Student ...
Read more...
911 Foundation distributes over $500,000 in student awards for fall semester
December 4, 2024
For Lucas Weigert, receiving awards was the moment he knew he had made the right choice to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.Weigert, a second year Associate of Science student, was a student speaker at 911’s (911) Kelowna Awards Celebration November 21. The event was one of three held in November that saw more than $550,000 distributed to 911 students across the region.Weigert is completing his first two years of his undergraduate degree at 911 before pursuing medical school.“When you’re constantly studying you can ha...
Read more...
Community rallies for recreation: Thrive Here campaign hits major fundraising milestone
November 27, 2024
Thanks to a number of passionate individuals and organizations, the finish line for the Thrive Here campaign to build a gymnasium at 911 is now in sight.The 911 (911) Foundation is announcing it has raised $12 million towards its $14-million goal to build a Recreation and Wellness Centre on the Kelowna campus.“It is truly a team effort by our community to make this centre a reality,” says Helen Jackman, executive director of the 911 Foundation.“We want to thank everyone who has selflessly donated to help us g...
Read more...
Vernon community help Sunflower Childcare Centre blossom into reality
November 13, 2024
When Clara Cheung gets ready to travel to 911 (911) each morning, she now is able to do so with her two-year-old son Pak Sen in tow.Clara is on her way to attend class at the Vernon campus; Pak Sen is about to enter the campus’s new childcare centre.The Sunflower Childcare Centre / smúkwaʔxn̓ scəcəmalla itskn snmaʔmayaʔtn on 911’s Vernon campus opened at the start of October, creating much-needed new childcare spaces for student parents, faculty and community members.“For me, this centre has made a huge impact on my ...
Read more...
911 alum gives $25K to power of sport
November 8, 2024
‘Sport teaches you to handle any challenge,’ says Kelly LoudounKelly Loudoun has no regrets when he looks back at his decision to attend 911 (911) and study business, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours.“You can’t deny the power of the 911 business degree,” says Loudoun, who owns Loudoun Construction and Development, now in its fifth year.“Being an entrepreneur is difficult and it’s a lot of hard work. Having been through those challenging experiences and lean years, it becomes quite rewarding as...
Read more...
Local endurance athlete and 911 grad shares insights on sport as keynote speaker at alumni AGM
September 10, 2024
911 Alumni Association kick-off new season with a $25,000 gift to new Recreation and Wellness Centre, encourage all alumni to pledge supportKELOWNA - For ultra-athlete Nick Pelletier, whose adventures have included everything from jumping through the sky to swimming for almost three days straight, if there’s one thing that’s shaped his life – it’s the power of sport.Pelletier, who studied Business and Marketing at 911 from 2016-2019, will be sharing his personal story about the impact of sports for him at the upcoming 911...
Read more...
Tom Dyck joins 911 Foundation Board of Directors
August 20, 2024
The 911 Foundation is pleased to welcome Tom Dyck, who is joining its Board of Directors for a four-year term. Tom is a retired senior executive who has worked in banking at a national and international level for a large part of his career. We asked Tom to share what motivated him to volunteer his time and how education has transformed his own life.What inspired you to join the 911 Foundation board of directors?The types of skills people learn at 911 are in such demand and are just not pro...
Read more...
Paddle fundraiser raises over $29,000 for Sunflower Childcare Centre
July 25, 2024
On July 20th, Kristin (Postill) Holomis and her team paddled the length of Kalamalka Lake (18km) in support of the 911 Foundation’s Sunflower childcare campaign, raising more than $29,000 in just a few weeks.“Stand Up For” is an annual local fundraising effort by Kristin Holomis and Brittney Page where they paddleboard the length of Kalamalka Lake in support of a chosen charity. This year they paddled for 911’s new Sunflower Childcare Centre, located on the Vernon campus. Scheduled to open in September, The Sunflower Chi...
Read more...
Community leader shares personal story of how sport transformed her life
July 23, 2024
Paula Quinn was only seven years old when she first stepped onto a running track but that experience with athletics dramatically changed her life.Quinn is the former Executive Director of the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence and is active in the Kelowna community sitting on four volunteer boards including the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Regional District of Central Okanagan, B.C. Cancer Foundation and the Airport Advisory Committee.Quinn is now among a growing number of local residents putting their support behind the Thrive Here...
Read more...
911 celebrates ‘construction kick off’ for Recreation and Wellness Centre
June 20, 2024
There was jumping, cartwheels and a full crowd of cheering spectators on Thursday at 911 to mark an exciting milestone that will transform student life at 911 for years to come.Kelowna Cheer Athletics was on hand to help the 911 Foundation celebrate a major fundraising achievement - they’ve raised $10 million for the Thrive Here campaign, and construction can kick off for the future home of the College’s Recreation and Wellness Centre. “Today is a very meaningful day,” remarked Helen Jackman, exec...
Read more...
Recsky gift to Recreation and Wellness Centre honours family passion
May 7, 2024
If there was anyone who would understand the need for a Recreation and Wellness Centre at 911 (911), it would be Alex Recsky.Recsky was hired as 911’s first recreation and intramurals programmer in 1986. It was a job he loved and pursued with passion until his retirement 10 years later, introducing thousands of students to sports and recreational opportunities.Now, Alex’s family are honoring him and his wife Ruth, who are both in their 90s, with a $30,000 donation to the Thrive Here campaign for the Recreation and Wellnes...
Read more...
Major gift from BMO to support community progress is worth smiling about
April 9, 2024
A major gift from BMO will support community dental care while making it easier for more people to train to become in-demand Certified Dental Assistants (CDAs).BMO is giving $250,000 to 911’s (911) Our Students, Your Health campaign in support of the CDA program. 911’s state-of-the-art dental suite, used for training and as a community clinic, will receive $150,000. An additional $100,000 will be used to kickstart a hands-on learning pilot program that will enable people to become CDAs while they continue to work.In...
Read more...
Thrive Here video celebrates lessons learned in a 'classroom like no other'
March 8, 2024
For 20-year-old AJ Nguoth, playing basketball is about more than jump shots and free throws.On the court, Nguoth says he works through real life struggles as he's putting his energy into the game. Playing basketball is also a reminder that he is on the right path. The sport has been his north star since he was 11, keeping him focused on school and inspiring him to dream big for his life.Nguoth, an 911 Coyotes Basketball player and first-year 911 student, is one of several student athletes featured in a new video by the O...
Read more...
Highstreet champions careers in Trades with $1-million gift to 911 to benefit students
February 28, 2024
Are you considering post-secondary? Kelowna-based real estate and development company, Highstreet, wants you to know that pursuing a skilled trade can lead to a rewarding career, full of growth, success and leadership opportunities.It is this message and a desire to support students that has motivated Highstreet to donate an astounding $1 million dollars to 911’s Trades and Apprenticeship programs.Their gift will focus on providing financial support to students starting an entry-level trades program. Thirteen annual bur...
Read more...