Mir Centre for Peace receives financial boost
The Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series Campaign has received a $100,000 boost from philanthropist Allan Markin of Alberta. The donation will be distributed in $20,000 increments over the next five years to support the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series and Selkirk College students.
“This money will help us to continue to bring internationally reputed speakers into the region and will also allow us to involve students in experiences around the Mir Lecture Series,” explained Donor Development Coordinator, Pat Henman. “With this generous donation, we will be able to plan expanded learning experiences for students with respect to our speakers and their topic areas. These experiences may be in the form of classes with the speakers as guest lecturers, hands-on workshops, field trips or community-based projects.”
In addition to the $100,000 donation, Markin contributed $5,000 towards the Mir Lecture with Dr. James Orbinski (March 19, 2010), who was the president of Doctors Without Borders when the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize and is the author of The Imperfect Offering.
College President, Marilyn Luscombe, stated that “Through generous donations such as Mr. Markin’s gifts, our learners and communities can be provided with first-hand access to people who have made significant differences in the world in many ways. It is our hope that the Mir Lecture Series can provide enlightenment on important issues and possibly inspire positive change and action.”
To date, the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series Campaign has raised $228,400, with $128,400 as the ongoing Endowment. Fundraising for the campaign has been extended to International Day of Peace, September 21, 2010, in an effort to achieve the $200,000 Mir Lecture Series Endowment—the original goal of the campaign.
This Endowment will provide for an annual return which will help make the Lecture Series as affordable and accessible as possible. For more information on the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series, or to make a donation, visit www.selkirk.ca/mir/campaign.
First published on August 11, 2010
