Olds College announced that $1,075,000 was raised in support of the Centennial Entrepreneurship Legacy Fund during a luncheon celebration on Nov. 23 that closed a year of centennial events at the college. The event was held at the Olds Cow Palace.
Olds College announced that $1,075,000 was raised in support of the Centennial Entrepreneurship Legacy Fund during a luncheon celebration on Nov. 23 that closed a year of centennial events at the college. The event was held at the Olds Cow Palace.
The entrepreneurial fund will bankroll student entrepreneurial activities at the college.
"We had a whole bunch of sponsorship money come in, we had events that we put on that were profitable and we had events that weren’t profitable, but that was fine because we wanted to enjoy those things. Our objective was to recognize the year, and if we could, have money left over," said Bill Quinney, chair of the volunteer governance team, in an interview, adding that the cooperation of a variety of groups throughout the year helped set the course for the college for years to come.
The luncheon event was held to thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped with centennial events throughout the year, including the launch of a commemorative centennial stamped envelope, the J.C. (Jack) Anderson Charity Auto Auction, the 2013 World Plowing Championship and the annual Olds College golf tournament in support of Broncos athletics, among others.
Barry Mehr, chair of the college’s board of governors, told the assembled audience that volunteers were the lifeblood of the centennial events.
"Our board owes a great debt of gratitude to the governance team of the centennial. The centennial was all about you, and made possible by you, our volunteers, our alumni, our faculty, students, industry, media and government partners, " he said.
Mehr said there were many great events over the course of the year that helped to bring recognition to the college. He said other educational programs, such as the launch of the fashion institute at the college’s Calgary campus and the launch of the brewery program in September, were other milestones in the college’s centennial year.
Quinney told the assembled group that $2.2 million in externally funded sponsorships were secured for the centennial events. He said enrolment has increased by 16 per cent over the past two years, due in large part to awareness of the centennial.
"We have met and surpassed all of our hopes and expectations. I am incredibly proud of this place," he said.
Mark Kaun, chair of the World Plowing Championship organizing committee, said in an interview he was grateful for the over 300 volunteers that helped put on the successful event in July.
"To facilitate a show like the 60th world plowing competition, we needed that many people to help out. Everybody was so helpful to the guests. It turned out way better than we thought it would," he said.
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