A message from Dr. David Malloy, King's Principal:
Dear members of the King’s community,
During my time here at King’s, I am continually pleased to discover the strong community in which the students, faculty, staff, and alumni care for each other and for the world beyond our campus.
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic at top of mind for us all, King’s has still found a way to support many worthy causes, in ways that are different from past years. This year’s
King’s Golf Classic, held virtually in 2020, and the accompanying Silent Auction, raised over $30,000 to ensure the continued funding of the King’s Golf Classic Award for students in financial need, as well as other priorities of the College.
Our students, including members of our student leadership at King's University College Students' Council (KUCSC), held
events over the summer to support local charitable organizations including Atlohsa Family Healing Services, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection and the St. Joseph Hospitality Centre.
At King’s, our students are always a top priority and we are committed to doing all we can to lessen any financial concerns they may have, so they can concentrate on their studies and the social aspects of their King’s experience. To that end, there are a number of scholarships, awards and bursaries we encourage our students to apply for. It is through the help of our community that we are able to offer these scholarships and bursaries, so it is only fitting we look for chances to give back. Thank you to all who continue to donate and support these scholarships, awards, and bursaries.
I also encourage you to make a donation to the Student Emergency Fund. Through spring and summer, our community provided support for more than 500 King's students through the Student Emergency Fund. Thanks to this generosity, many students were able to cover costs related to living expenses, Wi-Fi access, food, and other necessities. With your help, we can provide much needed support to King's students who are facing significant financial burdens, stress, and uncertainty during this time.
With the coming of fall comes the traditional start to our United Way campaign. This pandemic means there is an even greater need for us to support this important organization. Thank you to those of you who contributed to the United Way Elgin Middlesex by purchasing a meal as part of this year’s Harvest Lunch. While it was disappointing that we could not gather for the lunch, which has become a very enjoyable way to renew old acquaintances and be introduced to new friends, the virtual Harvest Lunch was an innovative way to continue to help those in need in our community by providing people with a lunch this month across London.
Last year, one in five local people used a United Way funded program or service. That is over 120,000 of our neighbours, colleagues and friends finding the help they needed when they needed it most. I would like to ask those who are able to please consider a one-time, bi-weekly or monthly payroll donation to help contribute to the 2020 King's University College Online Giving Campaign by accessing the
online pledge portal. (If you are having issues with the online donating systems, please email
epledge@unitedwayem.ca.)
Recently, I invited all King’s staff and faculty, many of whom have been working tirelessly to ensure the day-to-day operations of King’s, to take up to
two COVID Care Days between now and the end of 2020.
I encouraged our community to make use of these COVID Care Days to care for themselves, their families and loved ones, as well as the community. I think there are many wonderful opportunities for us at King’s to give back.
A great example of such an opportunity for King’s to give back has been the exemplary service that King’s Campus Ministry and the wider King’s community have provided to the
St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre. This long-term initiative will be supporting members of the East-end London community by distributing lunch bags of pre-wrapped food at the Centre on October 3.
I am immensely proud to see the way that so many of you are taking those opportunities discussed, as well as others, to step up and give back.
Take care of yourself, take care of each other and take care of our community.
