4 minute read
MLC Foundation news
Foundation news
Our heartfelt thanks
Sue Felton, Director of Advancement
We sometimes hear the idiom ‘to have a big heart’ used to describe someone’s kindness and generosity. Since joining MLC two years ago, I have witnessed first-hand and heard countless examples where this descriptor can justifiably be ascribed to our College community.
Our Community Care Group, a sub-group of our Parents’ Association, showed enormous heart last year, not only by offering to walk the dogs of many isolating MLC families, but by extending their largesse to Trinity and Ruyton families also in isolation, with more than 150 volunteers putting up their hands to take over fifty pooches for their daily walk. For our students across every part of the College, Service Learning strives to develop in them an understanding of service to others, and the rewards of contributing and giving back to one’s communities. Working together through classroom, House activities and Homegroups, students explore and show their support for significant, and unfortunately persistent issues, such as inequality, poverty and homelessness. For many of us right now, with so many causes to support, so many people in strife, and so much suffering throughout the world, it can be hard to know where to begin. What we do know with certainty is that human beings are moved to help individuals, not to address structural problems.
During hard times, education consistently receives widespread support because we know that education is the most empowering force in the world – creating knowledge, building knowledge, and building confidence.
Vitally, education breaks down barriers to access and opportunity. For many children, it can be their key to open the door to a better life.
Our community showed enormous heart during our 2021 Giving Day, coming together in support of means-tested Scholarships for students who otherwise could not access an MLC education.
Thank you again to all those in our community who so kindly choose to support us – whether it be with your valuable time as a volunteer, teacher or mentor, or via a financial contribution such as a donation towards our Community Giving Day, a Scholarship or a bequest. All of your gifts, whatever the size, are gratefully appreciated.
Moya Barclay, Advancement Manager
Our inaugural Giving Day on 1 June 2021 saw our entire MLC community come together, with one heart, to collectively raise $351,756 for Principal’s Means-Tested Scholarships. Following on from that success, we will be holding a second 24-hour MLC Giving Day on 9 June this year.
The College’s desire to provide more scholarships for its students from a wide range of backgrounds to access an MLC education, remains steadfast. Our ability to offer generous means-tested scholarships requires a strong commitment, not only by the College, but also the wider MLC community across the globe. Please join with us again in supporting diversity, equality and opportunity at MLC by giving to Principal’s Means-Tested Scholarships. If you didn’t give last year, please consider doing so on 9 June, at our donation webpage charidy.com/mlc. All donors who give $1,000 or more to the College in 2022 will be invited to join our new Joan Wilkinson Circle for 2023. Watch out for our Giving Day launch in late May!
The launch of the ‘Joan Wilkinson Circle’
Moya Barclay, Advancement Manager
The College is delighted to share some exciting news: the official launch on 24 March of the Joan Wilkinson Circle, which acknowledges and thanks all donors who gave $1,000 or more to MLC in 2021.
Membership of the Circle is renewed on an annual basis: donors who give $1,000 or more to the College this year will be invited to be members for 2023, and so on. The Circle honours the late Dr Joan Wilkinson AM (1945), one of our greatest benefactors and role models. A true believer in the transformative power of education, Dr Wilkinson endowed two means-tested Science scholarships in 2019 and 2020. To learn more about Dr Wilkinson’s life and legacy, scan the QR code to watch our video launching the Circle, presented by Principal Diana Vernon. Additionally, hear from our inaugural recipient of the JOZIL Scholarship Ingrid Winata (2021), MLC Foundation Chair Claire Rogers, and Director of Advancement Sue Felton. You can also read a tribute to Joan on page 31. For further information about the Joan Wilkinson Circle, or to give feedback on the video, please contact the Advancement team at foundation@mlc.vic.edu.au. Thank you once again to all in our MLC community who give in support of our current and future students — your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Ingrid Winata (2021), inaugural recipient of the JOZIL Scholarship
