Giving Day across campus, Part 4

Today is UCalgary Giving Day! In our final instalment of Giving Day Across Campus, we’re checking in with the Cumming School of Medicine, Werklund School of Education and Schulich School of Engineering — all of which are raising funds for initiatives that have a big impact beyond campus. We also have a few more of your colleagues sharing their Giving Day plans.

And if you haven’t already seen it, check out some highlights from Dan’s adventures on campus this Giving Day:

Better health and health care

Cumming School of Medicine

With almost 50 cents of every tax dollar currently going to health care, our system is simply not sustainable. That’s where the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the Cumming School of Medicine comes in, putting the “public” back in public health by bringing together an interdisciplinary group of researchers, practitioners and decision-makers to work collaboratively toward two common goals: better health and better health care.

“At the O’Brien Institute, we take on big public health challenges like health inequities and digital transformation of health care,” says Tom Stelfox, scientific director of the institute. “By working at the interface of the university and society we can bring real-world problems to researchers and evidence to governments, health systems and community organizations to advance public health.”

During UCalgary Giving Day, the institute raises money to advance this work through the Public Health Research Greatest Needs Fund. And it’s not just community members showing their support on Giving Day — the O’Brien Institutes strategic advisory board is all in.

Last year, Gail O’Brien — one of the institute’s namesakes, along with husband David O’Brien — issued a challenge to board members: for each one to make a gift during Giving Day. In the end, they achieved 100% participation, with funds supporting several postdoctoral scholars and two summer studentships, as well as creating a Postdoctoral Scholars Association at the institute.

With Giving Day 2023 on now, O’Brien is back at it, rounding up board and community members alike for better heath and heath care for all.

Building the world

Schulich School of Engineering

From the metaverse to large interconnected industrial processes, the modern world depends on electrical and software engineering. But you don’t have to be an engineer to support these evolving disciplines — your gift to the Schulich School of Engineering’s Department of Electrical and Software Engineering Fund makes it happen!

Electrical and software engineers create sensors and data acquisition systems that measure everything around us. Software-defined networks that securely transmit data to the cloud and data centres are also built by these engineers. It is an evolving field focused on creating artificial intelligence that extracts insights, applications, web tools and virtual reality solutions to visualize data. The clean electricity generated by electrical and software engineering is foundational to a sustainable future.

Engineers are building the world — and Giving Day donors are right alongside them.

Wellbeing in education

Werklund School of Education

Imagine a world where youth have access to a network of mental health and well-being professionals from the time they enter kindergarten to their graduation day. Where every child has the opportunity to build confidence by learning to read, understanding self-awareness and creating lasting friendships.

The Werklund School of Education’s Centre for Wellbeing in Education is on a mission to achieve just that, helping children build the tools they need to learn, have fun and grow while also working to prevent future mental-health crises.

Giving Day donors play an important part in that mission, with gifts to the Centre for Wellbeing in Education Fund helping to ensure finances are never a barrier to any parent who needs to access qualified counselling services so they can build a brighter future for their child.

‘Why I give’

Being a top research university is something to be proud of here at UCalgary — and support from faculty and staff donors helped get us there.

Cumming School of Medicine staff Victoria Ross and Samantha Jones each gave to the OWN.CANCER campaign, in support of the new Calgary Cancer Centre, this Giving Day.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Calgarians and southern Albertans who are facing cancer,” says Ross, senior events and communications specialist. “I am so thrilled to support and celebrate this milestone in cancer care.”

“OWN.CANCER is an important cause for me, having lost many family members and friends to cancer,” adds Jones, director of development services.

The research happening at the UCalgary is inspiring. Working for CSM and donating on Giving Day make me feel like I am owning how cancer has impacted my life.

Helen Dunlop, development strategist with Principal Gifts and Strategic Donor Engagement, is inspired by researchers and students alike. “When I see the incredible work being done at UCalgary to advance game-changing research, powerful student learning experiences and widespread community impact, it’s hard not to want to support it!”