Why I Give Back

BRIAN GILDA, FORMER PARENT DONOR TO BURSARIES

“Having had two daughters and currently two grandsons wearing the Green Blazer, either having progressed through life successfully or hopefully in the process of doing so, was sufficient reason for me to consider and ultimately create a Bursary to assist the tuition of a student and family who require support. Of course, being in a position to do so and having the motivation are also somewhat important.

“The latter was best explained to me by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu who I came to know because of my then Director status with Amnesty International, his involvement with Amnesty and my domicile in Cape Town. He taught me about UBUNTU, an African Zulu/Xhosa philosophy which is generally translated as ‘I am because we are’ or, ‘I am because you are’. I am comfortable with both and so was the Archbishop. Essentially it means moving beyond the immediate but, at its heart, it’s about giving something back along with a belief in sharing. I concluded that sharing with the College and with a gifted student who needs support to progress in the world was as good an inspiration as any.

“As a consequence, I had discussions with the Headmaster and the Director of Development and had them outline to me how I could assist in creating a Bursary. My eventual choice fitted perfectly with my own personal aspirations and also the College.

“The recipient student has just started in the Senior School and I will follow her progress remotely but with the same affection and concern I have for my two grandsons already there. I hope they all go on to do great things for themselves, their family and ultimately be able to inspire in the broader community; after all, they are the future.

“The College has always been ambitious about the development of young people, never more so than now. It might, therefore, be the perfect time for you to start a conversation with the Interim Head Teacher and Director of Development, and ask them to explain how you can help; there is no time like the present.”

HOW DO I GIVE?

Please visit: https://community.staloysius.org/donate to make a secure one-off gift or download our gift form. To discover the many ways you can donate, e.g., by bank transfer, giving in your Will, or donating stocks and shares, please visit: https://community.staloysius.org/a-guide-to-giving

To make a tax-effective gift from overseas, please visit: https://community.staloysius.org/giving-from-overseas

For US Donors, the College is a member of the British Schools and Universities Fund .

For Canadian Donors, the College is a member of the Charities Aid Foundation in Canada. If you would like to speak to someone about donating to Bursaries, please contact: Caroline Notman, Director of Development cnotman@staloysius.org | 0141-331-9274

For more information and to read our FAQs on Safe Haven Bursaries, please visit: https://community.staloysius.org/waystosupport

EMMA MACKENZIE (1986) (NÉE BYRNE) DONOR TO ‘TAKE YOUR SEATS’

“Our father, Paul A Byrne (1958), loved St Aloysius’ College. As both a pupil and parent, he shared many solemn and celebratory times in its glorious church. As a singer himself, the choir, music and theatre always brought deep joy. A seat in his memory, forever surrounded by these sounds would make him smile, as it does our mother and the four of us, all OAs.”