Aboriginal students at the University of Regina will have unique opportunities to further their education and careers, thanks to a generous donation from the GE Foundation. The foundation's contribution of $100,000 US to the Building Dreams and Futures campaign will help establish the Aboriginal Co-operative Education Program and Employment Services on campus by funding staff positions for two years. 

"The GE Foundation's mandate is to support innovative and meaningful educational programs," said Elyse Allan, President and CEO, GE Canada. "Programs of this kind are essential in strengthening access to quality education for all students in Canada."

The Aboriginal Co-operative Education Program and Employment Services is one of the first of its kind in Canada. Its goal is to support aboriginal students' academic and career success and maximize their employment prospects, as well as to increase the labour pool of highly qualified graduates. The program will provide customized services to help students successfully transition to and from University, develop job search skills they will use throughout their working lives, and gain career-related experience through co-operative work terms and summer employment positions.

"On behalf of the University community, I would like to thank the GE Foundation for this generous donation," said Ron Byrne, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. "The Aboriginal Co-operative Education Program and Employment Services will help the University of Regina attract and retain aboriginal students, and will help these students develop the skills they need to succeed in their education and careers." 

One of the main priorities of the Building Dreams and Futures campaign is raising funds for student support, with a special focus on aboriginal students. 

"The campaign's priority to raise funds to support aboriginal students will offer opportunities for a growing number of students to take the lead in all sectors of the economy." said Garry Huntington, chair of the Building Dreams and Futures campaign. "I commend the GE Foundation for the great leadership it has shown in making this donation, and I encourage other organizations to follow its example and get involved in the campaign."

The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to strengthen educational access, equity, and quality for disadvantaged youth globally; and supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2003, the GE Family contributed $140 million to community and educational programs, including $50 million from the GE Foundation. For information, visit www.gefoundation.com.

Building Dreams and Futures is an ambitious campaign to raise funds for five priority areas of the University of Regina: student support, research support, 2005 Canada Summer Games, Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, and emerging priorities. The projects and activities planned for those areas will cost a total of $75 million. To date, 71 per cent of that goal has been raised from a variety of funding sources, including donations from individuals, corporations, and community organizations. Information on the campaign and how to make a contribution is available at 1-866-667-7500 or www.uregina.ca/campaign.