Donors thanked for the impact they make

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Stirling, hosted a special event to thank people who made donations to Flinders University in the past year, highlighting the impact that comes from giving to support education and research.

The Impact of Giving afternoon tea at Alere Function Centre on Friday April 30 provided a unique opportunity for our community of donors, staff and alumni to meet with students and researchers who have benefitted from philanthropic support.

It is especially notable that 25% of donors to education and research during 2020 were Flinders University staff.

Guests at the event heard from Larry, a student who received the Matthew Flinders Scholarship during a time of need; from Beryl, a donor providing funds for cancer research at the University, and from Associate Professor Michael Michael, who is part of the team carrying out this research.

Early career researcher Dr Claire Baldwin spoke about her research project to develop a program to manage older adults’ physical activity during hospitalisation for an acute medical illness. The research has been made possible with Impact Seed Funding from Flinders University.

“It takes a united community to truly make an impact on society,” said Professor Stirling in his address to the audience, “and thanks to you, our inspiring community of donors who believe in our endeavors, Flinders University stands at the forefront of introducing positive change and inspiring innovation that improves the lives of people throughout the world. We could not be doing this without your continued generosity.

“During an extraordinary year where the immense pressure of a global pandemic was felt by all, we were humbled by the incredible generosity of the Flinders community of alumni, staff and friends who contributed to the Matthew Flinders Scholarship – established for students who suddenly found themselves in need due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“This support alleviated financial stress for more than 1900 students, enabling them to continue to focus on their studies and work towards their career goals.”

At the event, the Impact of Giving report was launched, which includes more inspiring stories such as the Mavis Brown Scholarship, the largest philanthropic scholarship at Flinders University which commenced in 2020. Each year the scholarship supports up to three students for the duration of their degree, increasing opportunities for high-achieving students who have faced extraordinary difficulties.

The Impact of Giving report also explains a $150,000 donation from Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park that will enable a Flinders University research project to help koalas who survived last year’s bushfires on Kangaroo Island, providing them with the best possible chance to repopulate and flourish.

For more information, the Impact of Giving report can be downloaded here, and to view an image gallery of the Impact of Giving event, click here.

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