Both RCI-IIIBEC Foundation and RCI Foundation Canada reached their highest level of giving on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, as part of the global Giving Tuesday. Specifically, $108,825 was raised to send college and university students to future IIBEC educational programs through the newly named Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund.
“We are proud that we have so many supporters who believe in the mission of our foundations,” said Helene Hardy-Pierce, secretary of the RCI-IIBEC Foundation. “Sending students to convention or another IIBEC educational program is a great way to get them engaged with our industry. Thank you to all the donors and the team who made this success possible!”
Donations for 2021 are still being accepted through the end of the year. For more information, contact Rick Gardner, development officer at rgardner@iibec.org.
By Rick Gardner
Tuesday, November 30, is Giving Tuesday, and the RCI-IIBEC Foundation (US) and RCI Foundation Canada will be participating in this day of support for charities all over the world. This year our goal is to raise $50,000 for the newly renamed Student Convention Fund, now known as the Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund in honor of recently deceased Foundation Chair Joe Hale.
“Joe loved being able to send college and university students to the IIBEC Convention each year and thought it was one of our best investments for the future of our industry,” said Mike Blanchette, chair of the RCI-IIBEC Foundation. “He loved meeting the students, asking about their interests, finding out where they were from, and connecting them with a member from their area.”
“Sending students from Canada to the convention and Building Enclosure Symposium has had some of the greatest returns for the foundation,” said Albert Duwyn, chair of the RCI Foundation Canada. “This program has strengthened our relationship with our colleges and universities, which we hope will create both future collaborations and new members for our profession.”
Duwyn added, “Both foundations see supporting the Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund on Giving Tuesday as a way for us to help transform our industry, grow our membership, and protect our future. Honoring Joe Hale is the icing on the cake!”
Since its inception, the IIBEC Convention Student Participation Fund has help sponsor 175 students to attend the IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show by covering registration, hotel, meals, and up to $400 in travel expenses. Many of these students now have careers in the building enclosure industry. With the name change, the fund will also help students attend other IIBEC-sponsored educational events, such as the Building Enclosure Symposium.
Here’s how you can help:
Between now and 11:59 p.m. on November 30, individuals, families, and industry can make gifts online at:
(US) RCI-IIBEC Foundation
(Canada) RCI Foundation Canada
To help raise awareness of charitable causes and encourage donors’ generosity, Meta (Facebook’s parent company) will be matching $8 million USD in qualifying donations made on Facebook during Giving Tuesday. Matching begins on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 8 a.m. ET. In past years, this matching fund was depleted very quickly, so this year Facebook has set more limits to the amount any one organization can receive.
Go to the foundation’s Facebook page for more information.
Additionally, if you or your company would like to donate stock, make a pledge, and/or be invoiced, please contact Rick Gardner, Foundations Development Officer, at rgardner@iibec.org.
Finally, if you do any shopping on Amazon (US only), consider signing up on Amazon Smile and selecting the RCI-IIBEC Foundation to receive a portion of your purchases.
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