Each December, Giving Tuesday harnesses the power of social media and the generosity of people to bring about real change.
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, people around the world come together on Giving Tuesday to support charitable causes. Over the past six years, alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and retirees have raised $796,886 for Waterloo through our Giving Tuesday campaigns.
This year, Giving Tuesday is December 1. That’s when more than 20 Waterloo ambassadors — we call them our Challenge Champions — will put their own money on the table to inspire others to give to Waterloo on this special day. Meet six of them, and learn why they got involved.
Steve Menich and wife Mary Ellen (BA ’78)
In these challenging times in particular, students and community non-profits need help. If we can support them in a symbiotic way, that’s ideal. The student gains valuable workplace skills and an awareness of what it means to be socially responsible in the community, and the non-profit gains a much-needed resource to allow them to carry out their work.
Steve and Mary Ellen are matching gifts to the Co-op and Experiential Education Challenge (up to a total of $5,000). Gifts to this challenge will support students in finding quality work experiences in the not-for-profit sector.
Rob Logan (BSc '82)
Waterloo helped form me, and as I have been blessed with the capacity to give back, I felt it was important to help today’s students experience some of the same opportunities I did. I hope my involvement in Giving Tuesday can promote physical and mental wellness, along with healthy competition at any level, as these things will be important to every student’s whole-life journey.
The former football Warrior is matching gifts to the Athletics and Recreation Challenge (up to a total of $5,000). Contributions to this challenge will support recreation and wellness programs and varsity teams to enrich the student experience and promote physical activity.
Heather Mair, professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
I can’t think of a more difficult time for students than right now. The stress of the pandemic is ever-present and we need to do all we can to help support our students. I hope our campus community thinks about the challenges we are all facing and the need for extra support. I also hope that faculty members who are not current donors to Waterloo will take this opportunity to become donors and perhaps even become champions in the future.
Retired faculty member Jim Frank (BSc '73, MSc '75)
Our University of Waterloo experience contributed significantly to our personal and career fulfillment and happiness. We hope that our support of Waterloo’s Giving Tuesday initiative will ensure that the University of Waterloo experience continues to bring the same success and happiness to students today.
and wife Jackie (BSc '74)
Heather, Jim and Jackie are matching gifts to the Student Wellness Challenge (up to a total of $2,000). Gifts to this challenge will support virtual fitness classes, expanded counselling options and social media programs that foster connection and resiliency.
