We are thrilled to learn of Ryan Beedie’s announcement. We enthusiastically read more details about the Bright Minds, Bright Futures program in your column. A columnist in the Vancouver Sun stated, “There’s nothing like the Beedie Luminaries program in Canada and nothing similar anywhere else.” We would, however, like to point out that there are indeed other programs out there. In fact, with the exception of financial magnitude, Beedie Luminaries is almost identical to the Bright Beginnings Foundation (BBF).
Launched in March 2015 by four Surrey public school educators, BBF’s mandate is to support high-school graduates in Surrey who are living in poverty. These students possess the academic ability but lack the financial means to pursue a post-secondary education. The foundation provides full funding for tuition, transportation, educational materials and some living expenses while students attend the post-secondary institution and program of their choice. The objective is to give financially marginalized students the same opportunity that their non-marginalized counterparts have. Having a post-secondary education means that they are able to obtain a degree or certification which will allow them to acquire a career that pays a living wage and benefits. This opportunity not only helps the students that benefit but also, potentially, their families and our community at large.
In the first two years BBF gave small grants to students trying to continue their education while facing difficult financial challenges. Currently, and with the generous support of the R.R. Smith Memorial Fund, the Surrey Teachers’ Association, the KEATCA fund and numerous individual donors, we are committed to helping an SFU student with full tuition, educational materials and student fees. Last year BBF held a banquet entitled Working Together for a Bright Future to raise funds for our students. It was a great success. On Friday, April 12th BBF will hold their second annual Banquet.
BBF has a sister organization, KEATCA, which is also committed to helping financially-challenged students attain post-secondary degrees. Their scope is much wider though. They help students locally, nationally and internationally.
KEATCA and BBF share the belief that the best way to break the cycle of poverty in families is to make education and training affordable and accessible. Our two organizations are holding our first annual Walk-a-thon on Saturday, May 11, 2019 entitled Walking Towards a Bright Future. We will be working with schools in Surrey to raise awareness of the issue of poverty in our community.
Bright Beginnings Foundation’s focus is unchanged with the recent announcement by Ryan Beedie. We will continue to provide full bursaries to Surrey students who require assistance to lift them and their families out of poverty. We will carry on our work on raising awareness of the issue of poverty in our communities. We will continue to challenge the policy-makers to accept education as a fundamental right. We will persist in our demand that post-secondary education be affordable and accessible to all. In point of fact, smaller organizations play a vital role in fighting for the systemic changes needed in societies.
So, there are, indeed, other like programs out there. What sets Beedie Luminaries apart is the financial backing. We wish them all the best for a Bright Future.
Bright Beginnings Foundation Directors,
Tammy Neuman
Sylvia Moffatt
Stephanie Emro
Karen Kilbride
KEATCA Fund Founders
Melinda Singal
Ramesh Singal
