A fundraising event to support awards for Surrey students planning to attend Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is off to a strong start thanks to Scotiabank.
Tickets for the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society’s annual Ignite a Dream cocktail social are now on sale. Funds raised go toward awards for graduating high school students in Surrey who have overcome significant barriers in their lives to pursue a post-secondary education at KPU.
Scotiabank has announced it will match funds raised by the society, up to $15,000, and also provide a team of 30 volunteers to support the event on Sept. 24 at KPU’s Tech Campus, 5500 180 St. in Cloverdale.
Dylan Van Rooyen, vice-president of the Surrey Fire Fighters' Charitable Society, says the commitment from Scotiabank comes at a crucial time.
“After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the SFFCS scholarship program is in need of a significant boost,” says Van Rooyen. “Working together we will be able to support even more students who face barriers in attending post-secondary education.”
Ignite a Dream is a partnership between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and KPU, and aims to remove barriers to education for children in Surrey by changing lives and inspiring recipients to become valued and contributing citizens who are agents of social change.
Steve Lewarne, executive director of KPU’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, says the KPU Foundation is extremely proud to partner again with the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society to support of KPU students through Ignite a Dream.
“The KPU Foundation is grateful for all the work Surrey firefighters do for our community and especially for what the society has done to help KPU students who have overcome adversity,” he says.
“We are even more grateful this year to have Scotiabank as our community and volunteer champion. Scotiabank’s pledge to provide up to $15,000 in matching funds will make Ignite a Dream twice as valuable to Surrey youth.”
To be eligible for an Ignite a Dream award, students must be graduating from Surrey School District, have overcome adversity and have extreme financial need.
Other sponsors supporting the event include Save-On-Foods, Global BC, the Surrey Now-Leader and the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce.
The Sept. 24 event runs from 7 to 10 p.m., and will feature wine and craft beer tastings, food, live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $60 each or 10 for $500. For tickets, or to participate as a food or beverage sponsor, visit surreyfirefighters.com/ignite.