Fundraising as a class, is one of the ways that alumni of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing can choose to give back to their alma mater and play a role in shaping the future of nursing education.
In 2021, the Class of 1971 donated $30K to establish an endowed award in honour of their 50th anniversary, a significant accomplishment. This year, as the Class of 71 marks their 55th anniversary, class ambassadors Ginger Brown, Allison Stuart, and Robin Scobie, have set their sights on an even bigger goal, encouraging their class to continue giving so that they can maximize the amount of funds that is disbursed to students.
“No matter where life has taken us, being a nurse has always been important to our class, and supporting new nurses is a sentiment that has not changed at all among our group,” says Brown.
Supporting future nurses
Since it was first established, the Bloomberg Nursing Class of 1971 Award has been awarded to five BScN students in financial need. Seeing the thank you letters from student recipients is something Scobie says, motivates her and the rest of the group to keep the endowed fund going.
“It is no small feat to take on fundraising for an endowed award, but when you see the impact it is having on students, you absolutely want to make sure it continues and that more students are able to receive support,” says Scobie.
Reaching their stretch goal of $55,000 would place the award in a stronger more sustainable position, helping to increase its impact for future nursing students in addition to further establishing the legacy and connection of this unique group of U of T Nursing alumni.
For Stuart, the current cost of tuition is something that really motivates her to continue giving back. She recalls how in 1971 tuition was $600 in their final year, in the year 2026 it is nearly 17 times as much.
“The idea that our contributions can help make things even a little bit easier in much tougher times is real inspiration,” says Stuart.
A strong class bond and legacy of giving
52 members of the Class of 71 having contributed to the endowed fund to date. Part of what makes them such successful fundraisers, is their shared commitment to nursing and their close and lasting bond with one another.
Brown, Scobie and Stuart all say that their connection as a group and their ability to sustain their bond is due in large part to their experiences as students at U of T. Graduating from U of T’s four-year baccalaureate nursing program meant they spent a significant amount of time together, and many of them were involved in extracurricular activities across campus.
“There was a nursing field hockey team and a flag football team,” recalls Brown, “we were a fun group.”
All three class ambassadors say they are immensely proud to be U of T graduates. For their 50th anniversary, the class created a yearbook showing the breadth of the experiences that resulted from their nursing degree, and how their educational foundation instilled in them a love for lifelong learning.
“I think our yearbook shows how this amazing group of women achieved big things with what was available to them at the time,” says Stuart. “We can see how that foundation has evolved at the Faculty, and I hope future graduates recognize how U of T and the nursing program is preparing men and women for the world of today and tomorrow.
The Class of 1971 has proven that a class legacy can extend far beyond a reunion year. Their commitment to supporting nursing students demonstrates the lasting impact alumni can have when they give together, and they encourage fellow alumni to mark their own milestone anniversaries by investing in the future of the profession.
Learn more about how you can give by getting in touch with Nicole Landa, Senior Development Officer at Nicole.landa@utoronto.ca