SASKATOON — With less than six months to go, the Be What the World Needs campaign has raised more than $470 million for areas of crucial importance to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) including critical research, Indigenous achievement, visionary spaces and student support needed for the future of the university and the future of student life on campus.
Besides the funds raised, Vice-President of University Relations Cheryl Hamelin said that some of the highlights for her have been seeing internal, external and international communities come together in support of a philanthropic vision.
“Our supporters have created and embraced a philanthropic culture that has allowed us to have incredible impact on areas of critical importance to the university,” she said.
In fact, the biggest challenge throughout the campaign, according to Hamelin, has been finding that there is always something more that could be done.
“It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true that there are more valid and very important needs than we have the money to address. There’s so much more we could do. For every dollar you move the needle on something, you’re not able to move the needle on something else that’s equally important,” she said.
While the campaign launched publicly in 2023, the quiet phase had been in motion years prior, meaning the impact of the campaign is already being felt in some very tangible ways. This includes the construction of Merlis Belsher Place. The multi-sport facility was built for both Huskie Athletics and community use after a multi-million-dollar donation from Merlis Belsher and additional support from more than 400 alumni, community members and organizations.
“It is a great example of the impact donor support can have not only on the university but for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and beyond. It elevates quality of life for our community at large,” said Hamelin.
Hamelin also remarked on the success of obtaining mental health funding, with the positive impact already being felt by students at USask.
“It’s been game-changing. It has taken wait times for our students down to a more manageable level and it has allowed us to be more proactive to get ahead of problems before they become a crisis,” she said.
In 2023/24, USask received a record $417 million in awarded research funding from various governmental and funding agencies and Hamelin said the growth of donor funding for research has followed the same trajectory.
“That support demonstrates the importance of research to our society—locally, nationally, internationally. Donors are interested in the impact of research,” said Hamelin. “They want to invest in problems that research can solve; challenges that research can help us overcome.”
One of the biggest challenges USask is working to solve is food security, which Hamelin said has had remarkable success in the amount and quality of support that’s been received from donors during the campaign.
“USask is known for many things and one of those things is agriculture and the work being done around food security,” she said. “What we’re providing to Canada and the world in food security and sustainable agriculture research helps solidify our place as a leader in that space.”
USask is also striving to be a leader in reconciliation and supporting Indigenous achievement, another pillar of the campaign that has seen great success.
“USask has been successful in securing the Research Chair in Métis Governance and Policy—the first of its kind in Canada,” said Hamelin, adding that the university has also been able to fund mentorship opportunities for more than 200 Indigenous high school students and raise significant money for scholarships, bursaries and experiential opportunities for First Nations and Métis students across our campuses.
“As the campaign nears the finish line, we have to make sure we don’t lose any of the excitement and passion the campaign has created,” said Hamelin. “We need to maintain the momentum long after the campaign wraps up.”
“As we move beyond the campaign, we plan to see more transformational gifts that will define the university’s future. USask has reached a point in its history and its philanthropic culture where transformational giving will see us naming more colleges, schools, buildings, and centres across campus,” said Hamelin.
“Campaigns are all about relationships, but they have not been transactional in any way, shape or form. All of the relationships I’ve formed with donors, faculty, staff, students, and alumni are so rich and full of the magic of giving,” she said.
Hamelin also reflected on the pride she has felt in helping close the largest campaign in Saskatchewan history for her alma mater.
“Leading this effort at the university I attended, and in the city where I grew up and started my professional life, is deeply gratifying.”
Hamelin encouraged the campus community to continue their engagement as the campaign enters the final stretch.
“Each gift, no matter the size, will impact the lives of our students, the people of Saskatchewan, and the citizens of the world for generations to come,” she said. “This campaign touches every area of the university and reminds us of the incredible impact we can achieve together.”
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
