Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: University of Ottawa
http://www.media.uottawa.ca/mediaroom/news_details-e.php?nid=999

Ottawa Senators Foundation, Max Keeping Foundation and the University of Ottawa work together for youth-in-care

October 21, 2006

The Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Max Keeping Foundation, in partnership with the University of Ottawa, today introduced Just One Person — a scholarship program for youth-in-care and an accompanying community award acknowledging the contributions of a citizen of Ottawa who’s helped ensure the health and well-being of children and families.

Today, Jim Orban, publisher of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, was selected as the first recipient of this award. His countless hours of community involvement have helped to make Ottawa a better place for families.

For more than 30 years, Jim has been involved in many community and newspaper organizations and is currently active on 13 community advisory/foundation boards. Throughout the year, Jim will attend more than 200 community meetings and events covering the full spectrum of organizations, companies and institutions that influence the overall prosperity of Ottawa-Gatineau.

More than 300 people gathered to celebrate Mr. Orban's accomplishments at a reception held at Scotiabank Place prior to Senators game against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, Oct. 21. As a result, this special event raised $35,000 for the JUST ONE PERSON scholarship program.

The money will help to establish a scholarship at the University of Ottawa that will afford youth-in-care the opportunity to attend university so they too can one day make a difference. The university will match funds dollar-for-dollar resulting in $70,000.

"We’re excited to be a part of this important initiative and look forward to working together to make this dream come true," says University of Ottawa vice president of university relations David Mitchell. "This investment in young people and their education will really make a difference in building a stronger community."

The Ontario Government has been invited to contribute to the scholarship fund and to join with the Ottawa Senators Foundation, Max Keeping Foundation and the University of Ottawa to challenge other organizations and post secondary institutions across Canada to create a similar event and award so that youth-in-care from coast to coast to coast will know they too will get the chance to follow their dreams.