In today's age of information and technology, a high school education is not enough.  Education levels relate directly to young people's ability to compete in the labour force, and their ability to share in Winnipeg's future.

Many Inner Winnipeg residents, particularly the youth, face unique challenges such as single parent families, unemployment, and poverty.  Education is the most powerful tool Inner Winnipeg youth need to attain their personal potential and enrich their community.  By doing so, they provide a valuable resource to all, including their future employers. 

The Scholarship Program was created by the Westland Foundation to provide an opportunity to earn a post-secondary education.   The goal is to encourage all Inner Winnipeg students to continue their education into the post-secondary level by paying the first year's tuition at a college or university for qualifying students.  The Westland Foundation has established a special Education Fund for the Scholarship Program.

All students enrolled in Grades 7 through 12 (Senior 4) in Inner Winnipeg - Westland area schools are eligible to participate.  The monies accumulated by the student are held in trust by the Westland Foundation until graduation.  When the student registers for college or university, the accumulated funds are transferred from the Education Fund to the institution of choice to be applied against the first year's tuition. 

A student is credited with $10 by the Westland Foundation Education Fund for each final mark over 80 per cent (or A) that he or she earns in an approved course.   A student who earns eight marks over 80 per cent in each of Grades 7 through 12 will have accumulated $480 towards his or her first year's tuition at college or university.

Since, even with this scholarship, not all students are able to go straight to college or university, a student has 30 months from graduation to enroll and receive the tuition credit.  After that, the tuition credit reverts back to the Education Fund

The goal of the Westland Foundation is to raise $2.1 million for the Education Fund.  This amount would generate the income needed annually to run the Scholarship Program in perpetuity.  Ultimately the goal would be to raise enough funds to provide both first year tuition and books.

To date, the Westland Foundation has raised approximately $197,000 for the Education Fund through its fundraising efforts.  These funds have been allocated to Red River College and the University of Winnipeg to access matching tuition credits.

Through separate agreements, Red River College, the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba have all committed to match funds raised up to $400,000, $100,000, and $300,000 respectively through the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative Fund. These matching funds are available for a three year period.

With the matching funds provided by these post-secondary institutions, almost $400,000 is now dedicated to the Scholarship Program.  However, we still have a distance to go to reach our goal and be able to launch the Scholarship Program.  To reach our goal, we will continue fundraising through our three annual events, and will enter into an innovative fundraising program in 2001.  The Westland Foundation is a registered charity, and all gifts to the Education Fund are tax deductible as a charitable donation.