The University of the West Indies (UWI) has established its annual “UWI Global Giving Week”, as a key fundraising initiative to which all alumni, friends and supporters are urged to give back and donate towards the University. It takes place annually from August 1-7 under the theme, “Emancipate, Educate, Donate”.
The Vice Chancellor of UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, reached out to leaders in the region and beyond to become Patrons of UWI Global Giving Week. The Governor General H.E. Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton GCMG QC JP, accepted Sir Hilary’s invitation and is now the official UWI Global Giving Week Patron for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Plans are being finalized, in cooperation with the Governor General, for the Official Launch of the St. Kitts and Nevis UWI Global Giving Week on Emancipation Day, Tuesday 1st August 2017 at The Government House. UWI alumni are being contacted and urged to “Save the Date”, and attend this auspicious event, together with all fellow alumni and supporters of the University.
A short segment of the stellar programme will be set aside for brief remarks and announcements of donations. Donation pledge cards will be available for those who intend to donate subsequently and both announced and unannounced monetary donations will be accepted at the event whether cash, cheque and by debit or credit card. H.E. Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton, himself is a proud alumnus and is encouraging fellow alumni to ensure that UWI continues to have a well-deserved global reputation for producing world-renowned leaders in a broad range of areas, both in the region and in the world.
He believes that “our” University should be confident in its reliance on its graduates to contribute towards maintaining the institution’s tradition of excellence, importantly by ensuring that the institution is always financially viable to carry out its invaluable work. 2 Proceeds will go towards assisting the St. Kitts and Nevis UWI Open Campus, as well as the wider UWI, to ensure that it continues to give our Caribbean youth the foundation needed for the development of their professional careers, and so underpinning the importance of young people in nation building. The institutionalization of the annual UWI Global Giving Week gives alumni, supporters and friends a set target date each year for donating to UWI, although continuous giving is encouraged throughout the year at the official safe online donation portal, www.uwi.edu/giving.
The Governor General is working closely with the St. Kitts and Nevis UWI Alumni Association (SKNUWIAA), and urges alumni to “reconnect” and become active members within the association and to become engaged and active. He has also pledged his full support to all SKNUWIAA events, and so joins in looking out for an interesting annual calendar of activities. The Governor General is asking all to make this UWI Global Giving Week 2017 a resounding success by committing to at least a minimum donation of $100, although donations of all amounts will be happily received.
The UWI Alumni, family, friends and supporters, are asked to be generous, so that the final total of donations from the UWI Alumni resident in St. Kitts and Nevis will be noteworthy among those received from the University’s regional and international chapters, organizations and partners. All donations received will be acknowledged in writing and cheques should be made payable to “The University of the West Indies” and Global Giving Week should be written on the back.
The Governor General and the SKNUWIAA look forward to your support as together, we continue to build “One UWI, One Alumni Family”.
