Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 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 the foundations’ goal is to raise $126,000 for the student funds: the Robert W. Lyons and Lewis W. Newlan scholarship funds as well as the Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund. Donations will go toward eight scholarships and sending students to the IIBEC Convention and Trade Show in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as to the Building Enclosure Symposium (BES) in Toronto, Ontario, next fall.
“It’s all about investing in our future. Last year we raised $115,000 and were able to use these funds to send 39 students to the Houston convention and 23 students to the BES in Orlando this past September,” said Ralph Paroli, chair of RCI Foundation Canada. “Additionally, this academic year we awarded $30,000 in scholarships, bringing us to $175,000 invested in these academic scholarships since they were created in 2018.”
The Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund (formerly named the student convention fund) has helped sponsor 320 students to attend the IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show and BES by covering registration, hotel, meals, and up to $750 in travel expenses. These students also receive one-year student membership in IIBEC. Many of these students now have careers in the building enclosure industry.
Some average costs for these programs are:
Lyons Scholarship (per individual): $5,000
RCI-Newlan Scholarship (per individual): $2,500
Convention sponsorship (average): $1,536
Student membership in IIBEC: $180
Student registration for BES: $175
Gifts to the foundations’ general fund over the last year helped complete research grants on unit price procurement and roof fasteners, and it funded an updated monograph on wind uplift on low slope roofs as well as research on spandrel glazing heat loss.
Here’s how you can help:
Between now and midnight of November 28, individuals, families, and industry can make gifts online at:
(US) RCI-IIBEC Foundation
https://rci-iibecfoundation.org/donate.aspx
(Canada) RCI Foundation Canada
https://www.rcifoundation.ca/donate.aspx
Additionally, if you or your company would like to donate stock or vehicle or make a pledge, please contact Rick Gardner, foundations development officer, at rgardner@iibec.org.
