Update

A Medley of Golf, Wine and the Arts – Take Your Pick or Enjoy All Three!

Fostering excellence through fundraising events

Wine pairing and partnering.  Darcy Mykytyshyn feels strongly that scholarships and endowments benefit people who need a hand up, not a hand out. He has spent the last seven years working with the International Wine Auction committee, generously offering his time and energy.

He knows that students aren’t the only ones to benefit from scholarships and endowments. The community is a major recipient. Mykytyshyn’s hope is that people will attend RDC, stay in central Alberta and begin their careers here.  He also hopes to attract people from other parts of the province and country.

“I’m in the home building business [he is Managing Partner of True-Line Homes], so when folks move to Red Deer, that’s great for me,” he explains. “And, I’m not the only industry to benefit from a strong and successful college.”

There are advantages to attracting and keeping smart, vibrant people. “Those are the ones we’re going to employ. They’ll be the succession strategy for small businesses and the leaders, the ones running for political office and making decisions.”

It’s not all about business. Mykytyshyn admits he has a fun time working with a wonderful committee.
While an economic driver is important, philosophically Mykytyshyn believes strongly in education. “My wife went back to school in her early 30s, so that reinforced the importance of ongoing life learning.”

Where fundraising proceeds go:

• International Wine Auction (end of October) Net profits exceeded $139,000 – a record amount!  As part of this event, the Committee established a new $55,000 International Wine Auction & Dinner Endowment.  
        The remainder of the proceeds were added to the RDC Foundation Scholarship Fund. These immediate funds are used for Building on Excellence awards, an emergency bursary fund, athletic academics, under-represented programs and students in critical financial need.

• Golf Classic (July) Eighteen new $2,500 scholarships were created. What does that mean for students? One scholarship will benefit three students over a three-year period. As with the Wine Auction, the remainder of proceeds were added to the RDC Foundation Scholarship Fund.

• Affairs of the Arts (end of February) Last year’s successful event raised over $62,000, with proceeds supporting Music, Theatre, Visual and Motion Picture Arts programs and students. 

You’re invited!  Join us on Saturday, February 26, for the 2011 Affairs of the Arts. Guests will be treated to a one-of-a-kind interactive experience at the RDC Arts Centre. Savour a marvellous dinner (held on the Mainstage!); participate in live and silent auctions showcasing art and other generously donated items. Finally, enjoy exceptional live entertainment performed by RDC students. An evening to stimulate your senses!

                        Did you know?
                        Donations through an endowment or scholarship are tax-deductible.

 Sharon Sutherland, Special Events Coordinator at RDC, also hopes students will stay in the community, “as they are our future business people, employees and entrepreneurs. Why go to the big cities when central Alberta has so much to offer?”

For the new golf scholarships, Sutherland worked with companies to pair them with programs such as trades, businesses, hospitality and tourism.

“For some students,” she says, “financial help can mean the difference between continuing their education or not.”

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or for event information, please contact Sharon Sutherland at sharon.sutherland@rdc.ab.ca or phone 403.357.3691.  You can also visit our events website.