Vice Chancellor thanks supporters
13 Mai 2014
The University's Vice Chancellor met with philanthropists from across the country over the weekend, to give thanks for their support which this year alone has resulted in over £4M being pledged to the University.
The inaugural Donor Day event brought together supporters of the University and academic and student beneficiaries in a bid to demonstrate the invaluable impact philanthropic donations have had on a range of activities within the University, including funding for scholarships, the construction of new University buildings, and helping to address society's grand challenges through its research.
"The philanthropic donations we receive offer society a real chance of tackling some of the big issues of our times - from diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer to solving resource shortages, energy crises and the growing gap between rich and poor," said Vice Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan.
He added: "Higher education provides the activities and infrastructure needed to deliver social progress, connecting a broad range of passions and interests from donors the world over. The scholarships, fellowships and bursaries that are made possible through the generosity of donors change students' lives and improve their life chances. They make them more employable, grant them access to a worldwide community and push open doors of every kind.
"The Donor Day is an opportunity for the University to show its gratitude to our donors and to showcase the research they have enabled, not to mention the benefits it continues to afford our society. I implore our donors to carry on giving and for others to do the same – the value of philanthropic work cannot be underestimated."
Donations have already provided the necessary capital needed to fund a number of vital research activities in the University. A recent legacy gift from Rhiannon Maxwell enabled the development of a Tissue Culture Suite in the School of Biosciences, while a donation from Sir Stanley Thomas allowed the School of Medicine to purchase state of the art equipment for the treatment of arthritis.
A substantial donation from the Jane Hodge Foundation to the University's European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute (ECSCRI) will enable the institute to attract a new Research Fellow and PhD student to contribute to the institute's efforts in finding stem cell solution to treating cancer. "This is an incredibly generous gift," said Professor Alan Clarke, Director of ECSCRI. "What it will allow us to achieve in being able to enlist another Research Fellow, will bring our vision of opening up the possibilities of being able to develop tailored therapies or 'personalised medicine' for patients with cancer another step closer. We are grateful to the Jane Hodge Foundation for their support and look forward to sharing our developments with them over the coming years."
Sarah Price, Acting Director of Development and Alumni Relations Division, said: "The Development and Alumni Relations Division plays a growing role in broadening income sources to Cardiff University by seeking philanthropic donations. Building relationships with our supporters and thanking donors appropriately plays a key part in helping to deliver the long-term financial sustainability through the University's Way Forward strategy."Nearly a hundred guests, including over 80 donors, attended the event, travelling from across the UK to celebrate the impact philanthropic donations have had within the University.