‘Ambitious’ NAIT fundraising campaign has nearly reached $100-million goal

In time for festive celebrations, NAIT reports being a snowflake away from its $100-million campaign target, a critical goal in its vision to be celebrated as a world-leading polytechnic.

“The campaign was publicly launched in 2014 with the goal of raising $100 million in support of students, applied research and facilities,” says Mike Meldrum, NAIT’s associate vice-president of advancement, who helped spearhead the campaign.

“We are still talking with alumni, other supporters and industry backers and hope significantly more funds might be realized before the campaign ends in the spring.”

NAIT president and CEO Glenn Feltham says with some pride: “You can’t do anything in the Edmonton area without meeting a NAIT graduate. It’s a wonderful and beautiful thing.”

Of the more than 200,000 students who have graduated from NAIT, some 60 per cent are working in the Edmonton area, while 90 per cent work in Alberta, says Meldrum.

Feltham says the “incredibly ambitious” fundraising campaign was planned when everything in Alberta was golden and then launched in November 2014, just as oil prices started plummeting.

“We were a little apprehensive when the economy faced more challenging times,” he says. “But it was an incredibly humbling experience when alumni, staff, students and industry supporters all stepped forward to help.”

First, the NAIT Students’ Association voted 93 per cent in favour of backing the campaign and donated $5 million, the largest donation in NAIT history.

And then a $1-million donation came from computer systems technology alumnus Ashif Mawji (class of 1992) and his family. It is the largest gift to date by a NAIT alumnus and helped establish the Mawji Centre for New Venture and Student Entrepreneurship.

Praise also has been heaped on campaign chair, Brent Hesje, former chair of NAIT’s board of governors and CEO of Fountain Tire.

“Alumni and staff totalled 35 per cent of donors; 32 per cent were from friends of NAIT and 33 per cent were from industry partners and foundations,” says Meldrum.

Some 3,827 donors have come forward to back the campaign.

Funds from the campaign also helped build the Centre for Applied Technology (opened August 2016), the Heavy Equipment Technology Building (opened April 2016) and the Spruce Grove Campus, home to the crane and hoisting program.

“All of this additional space improves the student experience,” says Meldrum.

A LESSON FROM EXPERIENCE

Like many other families, Coun. Bev Esslinger says there was a time in her life when her family experienced financial challenges.

“I remember two boxes of food once showed up on our doorstep when I was young,” she told guests at a function supporting the Edmonton Food Bank.

“We didn’t know where they came from, but it was like Christmas as we went through the boxes and discovered so many treasures. As kids, we were just excited about food.

“I’ve recently heard from many organizations supporting folks that are the most vulnerable,” she said. “And these charities say demands have increased over last year.

“I encourage everyone to do what Edmontonians do best: give of your time and-or money to support our great local organizations. It’s the Edmonton thing to do. It’s our people that make our city great, so please do what we do best — help out.”