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First-year Science student Jonathan Antenanie was uncertain if his dream to attend ������Ƶ Allison this fall would come true. A refugee from Ethiopia, he now calls Scarborough, ON home. Due to the pandemic, Antenanie’s refugee hearing was postponed, leaving him unable to access government funding to finance his education.

Antenanie was not sure where to turn for assistance, but then he received a call from ������Ƶ Allison’s Financial Aid Officer that turned his dream into a reality. He was told he would be receiving funding through ������Ƶ Allison’s new ������Ƶie2������Ƶie Financial Aid Fund.

“During this time, it is people like this who keep us going forward, make us feel we are doing right, and let us know there are always people willing to help,” he says about the support he received from ������Ƶ Allison alumni and friends.

The ������Ƶie2������Ƶie Financial Aid Fund was launched in June with a call to all alumni and friends of the University to generate $400,000 in additional financial aid to support students this fall. More than 500 generous alumni and friends have donated just over $385,000 to date to ensure deserving students facing additional pandemic-related financial hurdles could pursue their studies at ������Ƶ Allison as planned.

“We have received gifts from alumni around the world. We are almost there,” says Marcie Meekins, Manager of Alumni Giving. “In addition to our most long-standing and loyal donors who came through for us again, young alumni have stepped up and answered the call, several being first-time donors.”

With student need at an all-time high due to the pandemic, Sacha Huber (’07) knew this was the right time to make his first gift to the University.

“I feel like ������Ƶ Allison gave me a lot and it was time to give something back,” he says. “With the ������Ƶie2������Ƶie Fund, I am supporting an ambitious young scholar in achieving greatness. This makes me not only proud, but also very fortunate," says Huber (’07) from his home in Switzerland.

������Ƶ Allison’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau says the ������Ƶie2������Ƶie Financial Aid Fund is all about directly impacting the lives of students.

“We are so grateful that alumni like Sacha choose to give to this Fund,” says Boudreau. “It’s a way to directly and positively impact students in need, right now.”

Antenanie says coming to ������Ƶ Allison was the best decision he has ever made.

“I am having one of the best years of my life since coming to the small town of Sackville,” says Antenanie. “Everybody is welcoming and caring and it has made my life more meaningful.”

To make a gift to the ������Ƶie2������Ƶie Financial Aid Fund to directly impact the lives of students this fall, contact Manager of Alumni Giving Marcie Meeks at mmeekins@mta.ca.