FLATO Developments Inc. is donating $1.2 million to Fleming College in Lindsay — the largest single gift in the college’s history.
The announcement took place at the college’s Lindsay campus on Thursday (April 21), which was also attended by Ontario premier Doug Ford, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, and Fleming College president Maureen Adamson.
Launched in 2005 and based in Markham, FLATO Developments Inc. develops housing projects across southern Ontario, including in Lindsay and Cameron within Kawartha Lakes. The company has previously made donations to Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes Food Source, among others, and most recently entered into a 15-year $1.375 million sponsorship agreement with the Academy Theatre in Lindsay, which is now called FLATO Academy Theatre Lindsay.
“At FLATO we believe in supporting the communities where we build,” says FLATO Developments Inc. founder and president Shakir Rehmatullah in a media release. “Education is a very important part of the community and we’re excited to support Fleming College and help provide students with the resources they need to succeed.”
Of the $1.2 million donation, $720,000 will be put toward Fleming’s FLATO Capital Innovation Fund. The fund will allows Fleming faculty to teach students using the latest equipment that reflects the highest industry standards and practices, and provides reliable financial support for purchases in a rapidly shifting economy.
The remaining $480,000 will be used to create the FLATO Student Scholars Program, which will provide scholarships to several hundred incoming students at Fleming College’s Frost Campus over the next 10 years.
“With this donation, FLATO Developments Inc. and its founder Shakir Rehmatullah cement a legacy here at Fleming College,” says Fleming College president Maureen Adamson. “We are grateful for this gift, and we are grateful to find a partner in FLATO which shares our belief in supporting our community.”
In recognition of the donation, Fleming College will name the main foyer at Frost Campus as The Shakir Rehmatullah Atrium.
“This is not just an investment in Fleming College,” Adamson says. “This is an investment in people, in their hopes and dreams, and in their future careers.”
