DARTMOUTH – Accessing education at the Nova Scotia Community College got a bit easier today. The Joyce Foundation – headed by former Tim Horton’s owner Ron Joyce – gave a multi-million dollar donation to the college to help hundreds of students with the cost of tuition.
The 4.6-million dollars handed out by The Joyce Foundation is the largest single donation the Nova Scotia Community College has ever received. The NSCC said it will have a major impact on hundreds of students.
“It’s a huge gift for NSCC,” said Frank Lockington, the Executive Director of the NSCC Foundation. “We’re going to be able to help about 140 students each and every year with an entrance bursary to attend the college at any of our campuses around Nova Scotia. It also provides an additional $500,000 which will allow us to provide some urgent funding aid for students who are at risk of leaving NSCC before graduation.”
The bursaries are worth 1-thousand dollars each – about a third of the cost for tuition. These bursaries will not be based on high school marks. “It’s primarily based on financial need,” said Lockington, “and students will be asked about their engagement in the community and their contributions and their leadership.”
Grant Joyce, Trustee for the Joyce Foundation, said it’s all about giving back to Canadians, especially those in Nova Scotia. His father Ron grew up in Tatamagouche. “My father’s committed to giving the majority of the wealth that he’s accumulated over the years to his charitable foundation – The Joyce Foundation – of which I’m a trustee,” said Joyce, “and the major mandate of the foundation is to reduce financial barriers to post secondary education for Canadian youths that are in financial need.”
Ron Joyce admitted he didn’t have a lot of education, but still became the co-founder of Tim Horton’s. Joyce had a message for the students and staff at NSCC Akerley campus. “Education is a stepping ground,” he told the audience, “but where it goes from there is, you take that education and then you pursue a dream – whatever it is – and it’s persistence and dedication that will make it happen.”
Now 85, Ron Joyce enjoys giving money back to those who helped him become successful. So, how does today’s gift to NSCC make him feel?
“Makes me feel like a million dollars,” he replied.
Or 4.6 million, to be precise.
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