Updated: 9/10/2018
A donation last week in Virden could be seen as a link in the chain of generosity taking shape at Virden Collegiate: VCI alumni gave money to current VCI students who will, in turn, give it to school projects.
Karen Naumiuk, representing a group of Virden Collegiate alumni, gave a $3,000 cheque to Brandon Martens, the head of Virden Collegiate’s Philanthropy Club.
Naumiuk said six alumni members from the 1978, 79 and 80 graduating classes each shelled out $500 at their class reunion in Virden this summer.
“Phenomenal”
“We chose the Philanthropy Club for our donation because it’s just phenomenal that kids are making decisions like this,” said Naumiuk.
The Philanthropy Club is made up of VCI students who want to give a financial boost to deserving groups. For example, this past June the Club awarded grants to three school-based projects: Virden Junior High’s lunch program and composting project along with VCI’s Healthy Living Gym.
Martens says the Club’s long term goal is to amass $33,000 – enough to start an interest-earning foundation to support future projects and non-profits, operating much like a smaller-scale Virden Area Foundation. Last week’s gift of $3,000 from alumni represents the seed money needed to start building the fund.
