The program, which is being run through his Beedie Luminaries foundation, will grant 10 scholarship awards worth up to $40,000 each to single parents facing financial adversity.
The funds can be used towards full-time or part-time studies at any public post-secondary institution or trade school in the province, as well as the Native Education College, according to a news release from Beedie Luminaries.
“Single parents face many barriers – whether it’s finding flexible employment, getting childcare or paying for tuition if they decide to go back to school,” stated Beedie, in the release. “Given this and the additional hardships brought on by the pandemic, we wanted to expand the Beedie Luminaries scholarship program to help provide much-needed support to single parents so they can upgrade their skills and open more doors for themselves and their children.”
Beedie Luminaries launched in 2018 following a $50-million investment from Beedie, a longtime West Vancouver resident.
To date, the non-profit foundation has provided scholarships and support to more than 200 students facing financial challenges in B.C. as they’ve looked to attend post-secondary.
For the foundation’s new program, YWCA Metro Vancouver community development co-ordinator Ghezal Durrani – a single mother of three who put herself through university – will the join selecting committee for the 2021 single parent award recipients.
“This scholarship program will help take the burden off the shoulders of single parents who want to return to school,” stated Durrani.
To learn more about eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Beedie Luminaries website.
The application deadline is April 22. Successful applicants will be announced in May.
