Our Students, Your Health
Invest in the health and well-being of our communities
Areas of need
You supported students during a challenging year
Your impact
As a mother to four children, who is pursuing my education with my husband solely supporting our family, I can genuinely say that these awards have made a difference. Words cannot describe how much this means to not only me, but to my family. I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to these amazing donors for helping me pursue my educational goals.”
Michelle Quibell (right), Practical Nursing student, with OC Foundation donor and former Board of Director Raghwa Gopal
I am a first year BSN student and a mother of a 4-month old baby. I am truly honoured to be chosen as a scholarship awardee of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation. I appreciate the help that the foundation has extended to me as I struggle to make both ends meet as I fulfill my roles and responsibilities as a mother, wife, and student. Knowing that there is a foundation that is very much supportive of students like me, it motivates me more to pursue my goal to be a Registered Nurse in three years." Maria Agpaoa
I've been a career bartender for about 14 years and have had a hard time justifying making a career change. With your assistance I have been able to take a load of stress off of my new family's shoulders and really focus on my course. I would like to say that you have no idea how important this is and how much it means to me and my family, but you clearly do." Jason Vaness
Get involved
Book a tour
Contact us to take a socially-distanced tour of our new Health Sciences Centre or any of our four campuses. Email foundation@okanagan.bc.ca to book a tour.
Volunteer
We are looking for engaged community leaders to join our Board of Directors. Learn more about the role and responsibilities here. Send your resume to: foundation@okanagan.bc.ca
Year in review: Your values continue to shine
A message from our Executive Director
Equity and inclusion. Belief in the transformative power of education. A sense of community. These are just some of the values that inspired gifts this year, illuminating our campuses and brightening students’ lives.
Our sincere gratitude to all of you for continuing to lay a strong foundation for student success, educational excellence, and the well-being of our communities.
In January, we received a major gift from Kurt and Jutta Knuever more than doubling annual support for students at the Vernon campus. The Knuevers value hands-on skills training and wanted to empower students to transform their lives as well as contribute to the North Okanagan economy.
Students eagerly arrived back on campus in September, as the College returned fully to face-to-face learning. It is wonderful to see social connections reignited between students and their professors and instructors.
This year highlighted the need for additional support in specific areas like food security and thankfully donors like TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, Valley First and Sysco stepped up to sustain innovative solutions. Their support allowed the College to continue OC Serves Up, a free student meal program prepared by culinary arts students.
The Canadian Federation of University Women marked their 60th anniversary of improving women's lives through education by setting up a new bursary for women who are either underserved or underrepresented in certain fields.
Other organizations including Splatsin First Nation, Prospera Credit Union, FortisBC, Scotiabank, and The Jilly Box also stepped up to support students who have been historically excluded from educational opportunities. Former Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton also established a $40,000 fund for Indigenous learners.
Health care, of course, was top of mind this year. Donors gave in memory of a loved one who had dedicated their life to health care, in recognition of excellent care, or simply as an investment in the next generation of health-care professionals. Thanks to donors like the Stewart family, Skogie’s car washes and Okanagan College Students' Union, we are now in the final stretch to meet our $5 million fundraising goal. We are calling on the community to help us raise $750,000 before March 2021.
If you are looking to give a gift please consider giving the gift of health care. A gift to the Health Sciences Centre will create an incredible ripple effect in our community as these graduates will care for thousands of people over the span of their career. You can donate online here.
As we conclude 2021, we look back on these successes and more but also a year filled with challenges for our local communities and across B.C. In difficult times, reaffirming and acting with our values keeps us grounded and focused on what really matters.
We are honoured to be part of a community that leads with values. Your generosity is boosting our collective resilience and helping build a brighter future for all.
Impact stories
OC Foundation Events
Foundation information
Supporting the transformative power of education
Okanagan College Foundation was created nearly 20 years ago with a mission to support the transformative power of education. The Foundation stimulates the interest of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations in creating the best possible outcomes for students at Okanagan College. We raise and manage private resources for the development and expansion of educational programs, services, capital projects and student financial aid through scholarships, bursaries, and grants.
Charitable Registration #86248 8194 RR0001
Okanagan College Foundation Board of Directors
Gladys Fraser was elected Chair of the Okanagan College Foundation in June 2019. Fraser has worked with Scotiabank for more than 30 years, serving as a branch manager in Kelowna and Vernon. Fraser is also an active community leader and is currently the President of the District Parent Advisory Committee in School District 22.
- Ms. Gladys Fraser, Chair
- Mr. Colin Edstrom, Vice-Chair (Governance)
- Ms. Kimberly Gilhooly, Vice-Chair (Member-at-Large)
- Ms. Sheri Hamilton, Vice-Chair (Finance)
- Ms. Anne Marie Meehan, Vice-Chair (Community Engagement)
- Ms. Helen Jackman, Executive Director
- Ms. Ginny Manning
- Ms. Sue Beaudry
- Ms. Juliette Cunningham
- Ms. Connie Denesiuk
- Dr. Neil Fassina
- Mr. Mike Hooker
- Ms. Brea Lake
- Mr. Curtis Morcom, Treasurer
- Ms. Katie Newman
- Mr. Matt Nye
- Mr. Rob Phare
- Mr. Ramesh Rikhi
- Dr. Steve Tuck, President Emeritus
- Ms. Dawn Douglas, Board Secretary
Gratitude Report 2020-2021
This year’s Gratitude Report highlights how students are expanding their boundaries despite a pandemic thanks to donor support. Click here to read this year's Gratitude Report.
Employee giving
When you, as an Okanagan College employee give, it speaks volumes. This is because you have unique insight into precisely what's needed based on your close relationship to the College.
Meet our team
Helen Jackman
In 2019, Helen joined Okanagan College as the Executive Director of the Okanagan College Foundation and Director of Advancement at Okanagan College.
Helen is a relatively new arrival in the Okanagan, moving here with her family in 2017 to join United Way. Before leaving the United Kingdom, she was chief executive officer of the Macular Society, a medical research charity, where she led multi-million dollar research campaigns and oversaw significant growth.
Prior to that, she was executive director of programs at NESTA, where she built funding partnerships with government and industry.
She also recently joined the Board of the Journey Home Society, for which she co-chairs the Advocacy and Education Committee.
Sasha Carter
Sasha Carter recently joined the Okanagan College Foundation team as its new Development Officer for Planned Giving. With more than five years’ experience working in nonprofit planned giving and 17 years in the insurance industry, Sasha blends passion and financial acumen to support donors in planning their legacy.
Sasha helps donors with identifying their passions and aligning them with projects at Okanagan College, whether that be for individual student supports and bursaries, estate planning or capital project and program enhancement. There is never one size fits all.
For Sasha, it is paramount that she understands how her donors would like to have their positive impact felt in the world. By understanding the different methods of funding, whether it be through publicly-traded gifts of securities, a gift in a will or other charitable tools, Sasha helps donors maximize their philanthropy.
Sasha is a mom to two young boys, and is an avid competitive curler. She has competed on the provincial, national and international stage; capturing the title of World Champion in both 1995 and 2007.
Samantha Blandon
Samantha serves as the Campaign Coordinator for the Advancement department and Okanagan College Foundation. Her primary focus is supporting capital campaigns. She is responsible for coordinating meetings for the Campaign Cabinet, events and tours for donors and the community, and supporting the Director and Development Officers.
In 2019, Samantha was recognized by Okanagan College and her peers with a Service Excellence Award for consistently going beyond her regular duties and responsibilities to meet the needs of Okanagan College and contribute to our culture of service excellence.
Prior to joining the Advancement team in 2013, Samantha worked with local societies and non-profit organizations. Her primary responsibilities were to maintain and grow positive relations, and to creatively enhance the service experience.
Samantha earned her Bachelor of Business Administration (with Distinction), with a focus in Finance and Marketing, from Okanagan College in 2013.
Richard McAdam
Richard is responsible for the receiving and processing of all donations and revenues generated from award appeals, special events and other fundraising activities for the Okanagan College Foundation and for Alumni Relations.
He maintains award files and ensures the database is updated. Richard works closely with the Finance department and Financial Awards Department. He coordinates special events for Advancement & Alumni, including annual awards receptions and monthly presentations, and assists with other special events.
Richard is an OUC alumnus, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2003, before going on to complete a Master's degree at Dalhousie University in 2006. Richard joined the Advancement team in 2013.
Holly Routley
Holly Routley joined the Advancement & Alumni team in April 2018 as Development Officer - Major Gifts / Capital Campaigns. She plays a key strategic role in the Major Gifts program at Okanagan College, with a weighting on activities related to capital campaigns, including the new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus.
Holly's professional and volunteer history have uniquely prepared her to promote and advocate health and education in the community. Holly previously worked as a Registered Nurse, as well as developed and delivered effective volunteer leadership programs across Western Canada for the non-profit sector.
Stepping into funds development professionally, Holly blended these passions to successfully lead the recent rebuild of one of our community’s oldest elementary schools. She looks forward to carrying forth what she has learned into the Health Sciences Centre capital campaign.
Dawn Douglas
An OUC alumna and 20+ year employee of Okanagan College, Dawn is the Executive Assistant to the Director of Advancement as well as Board Secretary for the Okanagan College Foundation. She administers the day-to-day operations of the department, manages the Director's schedule, and coordinates Okanagan College Foundation Board meetings and activities.
Dawn oversees the Annual Charity Golf Tournament in Kelowna, the 50/50 Staff Lottery program and other events through the year.
In 2020, Dawn was recognized by Okanagan College and her peers with the Career Achievement Award, highlighting her dedication to the College and passion for supporting students.
Camille Jensen
Camille is responsible for campaign communications planning, public and media relations, and the creation of website content and other key publications.
Prior to joining Okanagan College, Camille has worked in a number of diverse roles from media to business consulting to launching a tech platform.
Camille loves helping people tell their stories. She feels very lucky to share the inspiring stories of students and donors alike, demonstrating first-hand the transformative power of education.
Camille has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).
Jeunesse Mirbach
Jeunesse joined the team as Division Assistant on March 29. She supports the team on all activities and will play a particularly important role in coordinating events.
Prior to joining the Advancement team, Jeunesse worked with the B.C. First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership that sees a 23- year agreement with the Province of B.C. and B.C. First Nations to share approximately $3 billion in gaming revenue.
Jeunesse graduated from Grant MacEwan University in 1999 with a Public Relations diploma and has worked for a number of non-profit organizations, specifically in culture and social services. After returning to Canada after more than ten years in the U.S., she has a renewed sense of purpose and is excited about joining the Okanagan College Foundation team because of the positive impact we have on the lives of students and on our community.
She is happy to make Kelowna her forever home with her family – a husband and two daughters (aged seven and 10).
Help transform lives and communities