Grad’s giving challenge helps break barriers to university education
Esmail Bharwani will match donations for AU’s First in Family Award during giving challenge
An Athabasca University (AU) alum and celebrated philanthropist is challenging the university community to help remove barriers to education by supporting a first-in-family student scholarship.
Retired tax lawyer and philanthropist Esmail Bharwani (Bachelor of Administration ’92) will match donations for AU’s First in Family to Attend University Award. The award is open to current students whose parents, grandparents, and siblings did not attend post-secondary.
Giving challenge
As part of AU’s first-ever giving challenge, Bharwani will match the first 100 donations (up to $20 each), for a total of $2,000.
“My wife Safana and I believe education empowers people to improve the quality of their life. My hope is that the many gifts our foundation is donating to support students will inspire others to give as well,” said Bharwani.
A past AU Distinguished Alumni Award winner, Bharwani was recently honoured for a lifetime of giving by the Calgary chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The Bharwani family has supported endowments at several Alberta post-secondary institutions, including AU, Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University, SAIT, and the University of Calgary.
Related: Distinguished grad honoured for lifetime of giving
70% of AU undergrads are first in their family to attend university
More than 70% of AU undergraduate program students are the first in their family to attend university. That includes student Jessica Anderson, who broke barriers when she enrolled in AU’s Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations program.
“My hope is that even though I am the first, I will not be the last in my family to complete university,” Anderson said.
Support students’ education dreams
You can help make a difference in a student’s educational journey by participating in AU’s giving challenge by Nov. 29. Donate anytime until 11:59 p.m. (Mountain) to ensure your gift is matched.
