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NEWS RELEASES

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

******************** Orazietti announces $518,808 for Algoma University College's endowment foundation

McGuinty government enhances access for students through Ontario Trust program

Sault Ste. Marie – The McGuinty government is promoting student success by creating more bursaries to improve access at Algoma University College, David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie announced today.

"The $518,808 that the provincial government is contributing to the Ontario Trust for Student Support is part of our commitment to ensure that every eligible young person will have the opportunity to get an education, regardless of financial means," said Orazietti. "Through our recent initiative to double the number of students that will qualify for provincial grants and unprecedented funding for 75,000 new spaces in colleges and universities over the next five years, our government is making post secondary education more accessible for all Ontarians."

Through the trust, the government will make $50 million available every year to match private and corporate cash donations used by colleges and universities to set up endowment funds.

Investment income generated by these endowment funds will support bursaries for students who are in financial need.

"Investments in the education of our community’s young people will provide them with the skills and training necessary to compete in the knowledge based economy, leading to creating a more prosperous Sault Ste. Marie," said Orazietti. "Education is our future, and our government has made it a key priority by investing $6.2 billion into the sector, the largest in post-secondary education in more than 40 years."

David Orazietti will be on hand to congratulate Algoma University College Foundation officials on their tremendous fundraising efforts through their Living Learning Campaign at a reception this afternoon at 5:30.

"This is a very exciting and important step for the Algoma U Foundation," said Robert J. Dumanski, chair of the foundation. "We launched the Living Learning Campaign to increase the endowment by $748,000. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of donors who have come forward and exceeded all expectations. I cannot thank enough the volunteers who worked on this campaign, and these generous donors, for what they have done."

The university has raised $1,036,616 in total, with $518,808 in donations to the foundation and $518,808 in matching funds from the provincial government’s Ontario Trust Fund for Student Support.

******************** Algoma U Foundation announces $1,036,000 to foundation's endowment funds

The Algoma University College Foundation announced today that its latest special fundraising campaign has been far more successful than anticipated.

The Living Learning Campaign, launched with four donations in winter of 2004, will be adding more than $1,036,000 to the Foundation's endowment funds.

"This is a very exciting and important step for the Algoma U Foundation," said Robert J. Dumanski, Chair of the Foundation. "We launched the Living Learning Campaign to increase the endowment by $784,000. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of donors who have come forward and exceeded all expectations. I cannot thank enough the volunteers who worked on this campaign, and these generous donors, for what they have done," he said.

Dumanski said the $1,036,000 consists of $518,000 in donations to the foundation and $518,000 in matching funds from the Ontario Trust Fund for Student Support.

Dumanski said that the students of Algoma U are the true beneficiaries, as these donations will allow the foundation to provide more than $51,000 a year in financial aid directly to students.

"These donors have created endowed bursary funds," said Dumanski, "which means that the money donated, and the matching funds from the province, will be held in perpetuity by the Algoma U Foundation to provide for students."

Dr. Celia Ross, President of Algoma U, said that the university is very grateful to the foundation for providing support annually to students who may not otherwise be able to afford to graduate.

"A university education is both an extremely valuable and fairly expensive thing to obtain," said Dr. Ross. "This is a strong vote of confidence in our students and the quality of education provided at Algoma U."

Donations to the Living Learning Campaign established the following endowed bursary funds through the Algoma U Foundation:

Paul and Bricken Dalseg, Pioneers of Lake-of-The-Woods Student Award - Johanna Bischoping Award - Scotiabank Student Assistance Fund - Askin Family Bursary - Alexander M. Ross Bursary - Indigenous Students Assistance Fund - Living Learning Student Assistance Fund - Gerald E. Nori QC Student Assistance Fund - Great-West Life Student Assistance Fund for Indigenous Students - Great-West Life Student Assistance Fund - Shingwauk Aboriginal Students Association Student Fund - Sar-Gin Developments (Sault) Ltd Student Award - Dr. Ken McLarty Research Award - Steelworkers 2251 Student Award established by John Kallio - Brookfield Power First Nations Environmental Science Award - Dr. Robert V. d'Amato Student Award established by Theatre Algoma - Algoma Steel Incorporated Student Award - Sault Recreation Hockey Association Fun Through Recreation Award - Tulloch Engineering Student Award

Algoma U Foundation board of directors

Robert J Dumanski, Chair Anthony Pucci, Vice-Chair Dr. Suzanne Priddle-Luck Peter Vaudry Michael Tulloch Brian Curran Les Dunbar Mark Lajambe Anthony Rossi David Pitcher Bud Wildman Mark Pitcher Dr. Celia Ross Deborah Loosemore

Living Learning Campaign Committee

Brian Curran, Mike Tulloch, Cathy Shunock