Marotta family gifts $1 million to Niagara College
Niagara College’s new innovation complex got a significant boost Friday after a major donation was announced.
The announcement of the $1million gift from the Marotta family was made at the college’s annual Seafood Gala.
In recognition of the donation, the new complex will be named the Marotta Family Innovation Complex.
The 4,410-square -metre, fourstorey complex at the Niagara-onthe-Lake campus is scheduled for completion in fall 2018, enhancing the college’s ability to support the growing competitiveness of Niagara’s agribusiness sector.
“As a family we have always looked ahead towards progress, keeping traditions alive and making communities stronger,” said the Marotta family in a statement. “We are proud to be supporting Niagara College. Our goal is to help ensure this vibrant student community is always looking forward and that they will achieve successes in all aspects of their life.
“These students represent the future of our local agribusiness industry and the wine and culinary community of Niagara-onthe-Lake and will continue to bring it recognition on the national and worldwide stage.”
Also, the complex will include agrifood research and innovation laboratories, incubation space for business, specialized student engagement and entrepreneurship training facilities, and will house a student fitness centre and gymnasium.
Louise and Benny Marotta’s daughters, Angela and Melissa, are the proprietors of awardwinning winery Two Sisters Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake who have also committed $20,000 for the establishment of the Two Sisters Vineyard Bursary Fund. The bursaries of $2,000 each will be awarded annually to students in Niagara College’s culinary innovation and food technology, culinary management, and winery and viticulture technician programs.
“All of us at Niagara College are extremely grateful to the Marotta family for their generosity,” said college president Dan Patterson in a statement.
“This gift, supporting the Marotta Family Innovation Complex, will provide our students with innovative learning spaces, and facilitate cutting-edge research projects that will move Niagara’s growing agrifood industry forward.
“It is an important investment in innovation and economic development in the Niagara region,” added Patterson.
“The additional support through the Two Sisters Vineyards bursary will help many capable and aspiring students pursue a post-secondary education, who otherwise may not have been able to,” Paterson said.
The gala marked the completion of the College’s Achieving Dreams campaign which began in April 2015 and far surpassed its original goal of $7 million with a total of $11,450,791.
The campaign raised funds for campus redevelopment, scholarships, bursaries, study-work abroad and student leadership development opportunities, along with instructional equipment and learning resources.