Legacy Committee's gift supports Syrian family and Western community

Western’s Alumni Association has donated $10,000 to the Western Social Science Refugee Sponsorship Fund, an initiative led by Western’s Faculty of Social Science and in partnership with the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre.

Following a unanimous vote at its December 9, 2015 meeting, the Board approved the Executive Committee’s recommendation, proposed by the Alumni Legacy Committee, to contribute to the Syrian Crisis fundraising efforts being undertaken by members of the Western community. 

“The Western Alumni Association wanted to help Syrian refugees and to also make a gift in recognition of all the support that other Western alumni, students, faculty and staff have given to this important initiative,” said Mark Brown, Chair of the Alumni Legacy Committee.

Money raised for the Refugee Sponsorship Fund will be used to sponsor Syrian refugee families coming to London, Ont., which comes at a cost of $30,000 for each family of five. With the addition of the Association’s gift, nearly $60,000 - or enough to sponsor two families – has been raised.  

“We’re so grateful to the Alumni Association for their support of this initiative,” said Victoria Esses, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Western Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations. “This gift will make all the difference for a Syrian refugee family living in limbo in Turkey, Lebanon, or Jordan, who will now be able to come to Canada to start a new life.”

Visit the Western Social Science Refugee Sponsorship Fund page for more information about the initiative.