SIGNIFICANT DONATION INCLUDES “CHALLENGE GRANT” TO SUPPORT ACADIA DIVINITY COLLEGE PROGRAM
Wolfville, NS, August 21, 2015 – The training by Acadia Divinity College (ADC) of future church ministry leaders to preach and conduct worship has received major financial support from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
Rev. Dr. Harry Gardner, President of ADC and Dean of Theology of Acadia University, today announced that The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has made a gift of $500,000, to the endowment for The John Gladstone Chair of Preaching and Worship. This generous gift follows earlier support from the Foundation when the Gladstone Chair was first created in 1993.
“We are deeply grateful to The W. Garfield Weston Foundation for this Leadership Gift,” said Dr. Gardner. “The Foundation’s investment in Acadia Divinity College will increase the endowment of one of our key teaching areas to a permanently sustainable level. Such a gift will create tremendous and lasting impact among the next generation of ADC students.”
The Foundation has offered an additional $500,000 as a “challenge grant” to match any other gifts to the Gladstone Chair, on a dollar-for-dollar basis made or pledged before the end of 2015.
The announcement was made at Acadia during the alumni reception portion of the annual meeting of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. In making the announcement, Dr. Gardner explained that the Weston Foundation gift is one of the keys that will help ADC meet its four strategic priorities during the next three years. These priorities are:
- Refurbishing the College building on Acadia’s campus;
- Ensuring quality instruction through increasing endowments for key academic Chairs;
- Supporting students through increasing scholarships and bursaries; and
- Going public with the Gospel by securing an endowment for the new Centre for Christian Faith and Culture
Foundation Director Garfield Mitchell commented “We are delighted to make this commitment in recognition of our long-standing and happy association with Acadia Divinity College, and in memory of our esteemed friend Dr. John Gladstone.”
University Chancellor, Libby Burnham, CM, QC, DCL, said, “I am thrilled to see the strong support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to Acadia Divinity College and the University. Acadia has trained pastoral leaders throughout its history, and this gift will ensure the future of this education. We have a long association with the Foundation, and the Weston family’s contribution to helping ADC reach its goals is deeply appreciated.”
The Acadia Chair of Preaching and Worship is named after The Rev. Dr. John N. Gladstone (1921-2005), the highly regarded Senior Minister at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, Ontario, where he served for 26 years. He was widely recognized for his vibrant and distinguished preaching and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from McMaster Divinity College in 1970. A strong supporter of Acadia Divinity College throughout his career, he was the Gerald K. Simpson guest lecturer in 1984 and also shared the teaching of a Doctoral course in Preaching and Worship in 1994.
About The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation, established in the 1950’s by Willard Garfield Weston, his wife Reta and their children. In 1924 Garfield inherited his father’s company and during his life established baking and retail businesses throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. The founders believed that as the funds are generated through the hard work and success of these Canadian companies, grants should be given in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has maintained a family tradition of supporting charitable organizations across Canada. Today the Foundation directs the majority of its funds to projects in the fields of land conservation, education, and scientific research in Canada’s North. In addition, it provides funds to further Canada’s research in neuroscience.
– 30-
Contacts:
For more information, please contact Rev. John Campbell, Director of Advancement
Phone: 902.585.2218 email: john.campbell@acadiau.ca
To arrange an interview with ADC President, Dr. Harry Gardner, please contact Eveline DeSchiffart, Executive Assistant to the President
Phone: 902.585.2213 email: eveline.deschiffart@acadiau.ca
