A foundation established by late Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce has donated $2.5 million for Trent University to help students who face socio-economic barriers to post-secondary education,
Trent University announced the Joyce Family Foundation Bursary Endowment Fund on Friday (October 14).
The university’s largest-ever endowed bursary will be available to any undergraduate student in any field of study, with preference given to students who come from the City or County of Peterborough, Durham Region, and Haliburton County.
“This gift, which creates our largest fund for student aid, greatly enhances Trent University’s ability to support students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education,” said Trent University president and vice-chancellor Dr. Leo Groarke.
“We thank the Joyce Family Foundation for changing lives and believing in local students who need a helping hand to pursue their dreams.”
The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary Endowment Fund fund will provide annual bursaries of up to $5,000 for four students per year, renewable up to a maximum of four years, to be applied against the cost of tuition and fees and educational expenses. Each successful applicant will be required to work with a mentor in an extracurricular activity throughout their program.
Formerly known as the Joyce Foundation, the Joyce Family Foundation is a private foundation created by Ron Joyce, best known as the legendary Canadian entrepreneur who, in 1964, invested in the first Tim Hortons donut shop in Hamilton, Ontario and then grew the business into one of the most successful food service chains in the world.
A high-school dropout who became a billionaire, Joyce’s philanthropic efforts were motivated by the own adversity he faced in his own childhood and youth. He founded the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, which sends underprivileged kids to camp each year, before establishing his own foundation whose primary focus is to provide access to education for children and youth with significant financial need or facing other socio-economic barriers to success.
“Ron Joyce believed in hard work and the power of education to open doors and help meet potential,” said Maureen O’Neill, executive director of the Joyce Family Foundation. “This gift is part of the Board’s commitment to Ron Joyce’s legacy and genuine belief in youth to bring their talents and contributions into Canadian society.”
