Transforming lives: the impact of class giving

Feature Stories | 23 Apr 2024

Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) has been transformed by our alumni’s ongoing commitment to improve opportunities for those students who follow in their footsteps. 

Many gifts exemplify the power and unity within classes – their impact extending far beyond university walls, touching countless lives, and leaving an indelible mark on the broader health-care landscape. 

“The continued engagement, support, and active participation of alumni classes propels our faculty to the forefront of health education and research,” says QHS Dean Jane Philpott. "Their combined efforts have fueled groundbreaking research, facilitated access to quality healthcare for underserved populations, and supported scholarships that have empowered the next generation of health professionals.”

QHS has 113 active alumni classes and 42 class endowments which have raised over $4.5 million (as of 2023). 

Here are just some of the faculty’s success stories in class philanthropy: 

Nursing’87

The nursing class of ‘87 realized they each had unique experiences and passions within the nursing field and wanted to make a difference in areas that meant the most to them.

They crafted a fundraising campaign that honoured the diverse passions of their class, offering a menu of options that encouraged each class member to choose a cause that resonated deeply with them – from scholarships empowering aspiring nurses to initiatives supporting underserved communities. 

Nursing alumni have a long-standing tradition of supporting current and future nursing students. The class-giving initiatives, as well as the creation of bursaries, have had a significant impact on the nursing program, allowing for enhanced educational opportunities, scholarships, and financial aid for aspiring nurses, opening doors for students who may not have had the means to pursue their education otherwise.  

“I know firsthand the importance of student bursaries,” says Kim van Steenbergen, NSc’78. "(My bursary) relieved the need to work while studying, allowing me to concentrate fully on my education. Inspired by the generosity I experienced, I encourage my classmates to 'pay it forward' and make a difference in the lives of future nurses.”

Meds’01

The collective spirit of Meds’01 was ignited during their 10-year reunion in 2011 when they rallied to support the construction of a new medical building, recognizing the need for state-of-the-art facilities to benefit future generations of medical students. The class raised just over $28,500 alongside many other generous benefactors.

As their 15th reunion approached, they resolved to address an urgent concern: financial need among medical students. They established the Meds’01 Bursary, a lifeline for aspiring doctors facing financial hardships.

In 2021, the class faced a heartbreaking blow when they lost one of their cherished classmates, Lucas Murnaghan. Murnaghan had been the driving force behind many of their philanthropic initiatives. The class resolved to create a new fund that would embody his spirit and extend his legacy. The Meds 2001 Medicine and Life Award, established during the class’s 21st anniversary, aims to foster student wellness and life balance.

Meds’01 alumni and current professor, Dr. Steven Brooks, said he sees class giving as “a good opportunity to do something for the future of medicine at Queen's together with friends who benefitted immensely from our own experiences here.”

Meds’74

Shaped by their time at Queen's, this class forged lifelong friendships and a deep sense of loyalty to each other and their alma mater. Their reunions, held every five years, serve as a testament to their enduring bonds. Their class is committed to giving back, setting ambitious fundraising goals to support the next generation of health-care professionals.

Led by classmates like Bob Reid and Gordon Francis, they started with small goals and events. Reid hosted a golf tournament for their 30th reunion to raise money for the Queen’s Medical Student Bursary that became so successful it ran for 14 years and raised almost one million dollars. As they approach their 50th reunion in September, they aim to raise $500,000, demonstrating the remarkable impact of collective giving.  

“Think creatively, engage your classmates, and maintain regular contact,” Francis says in summing up the impact of collective giving. “Together, we can make a difference.” 

Rehab’70

The Rehab’70 class has a rich history of excellence as trailblazers in the fields of Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT). They also have a rich history of generosity and investing in the future of rehabilitation therapy.

They established a bursary fund to ensure future OT and PT students would receive the support necessary to pursue their dreams. This generosity helps to alleviate the burden of educational expenses such as tuition fees, textbooks, and living costs. Since its inception in 2007, the class bursary has already supported 26 students.

Additionally, Rehab’70 has encouraged their fellow classmates to make estate gifts to Queen's University, ensuring that their impact extends well into the future.

“As a small class, we have remained incredibly close, and I felt it is important to join my classmates to financially help future graduates to go on to achieve careers as rewarding as our class had,” says alumna Linda Watson (PT’70).

Read the QHS Class Giving Report.

Transforming lives: the impact of class giving

Nursing’87

Meds’01

Meds’74

Rehab’70

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