February 23, 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – A celebration hosted today by students and staff at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) marked the 100th birthday of generous donor, Harold ‘Pat’ Dooley. Joined by Durham College President Leah Myers, UOIT President Dr. Ronald Bordessa, faculty, staff, and friends, Mr. Dooley was also honoured for his passion and commitment to helping students pursue their post-secondary dreams.

“I wanted to give kids the opportunity to do what I was never able to do,” said Mr. Dooley, who over the past decade has personally contributed $50,000 to Durham College. Dooley’s generous donations have met the criteria necessary to be eligible for the Government of Ontario’s matching program to create a $100,000 endowment called the Harold ‘Pat’ Dooley Education Fund. This fund has helped many students realize their potential and develop the workplace ready skills necessary to help them in their future careers.

Mr. Dooley will also be providing additional funding to UOIT students in financial need by establishing a legacy through his estate that will help future generations of students reach their full potential through post-secondary education.

“It is our great pleasure to share in celebrating a century of living,” said Dr. Bordessa. “On behalf of the students at UOIT, I would like to offer our sincere thanks to Mr. Dooley for planning for such a generous bequest. His support will mean more UOIT students than ever will have access to UOIT’s academically challenging and leading-edge learning environment.”

Mr. Dooley’s demonstrated generosity is a great example of how supporting students is an investment in the future, and one that many individuals can help with, either through an endowed award or a planned estate gift. Donors have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the educational lives of Durham College and UOIT students, just as he has.

“Durham College is delighted to celebrate this significant milestone in the life of our longtime friend and supporter, Mr. Dooley,” said Myers. “We are deeply grateful for his generous contributions over the years, which have provided countless opportunities for students to benefit from the premier educational and student life experience we offer here on campus.”

A retired electrician, Mr. Dooley immigrated to Canada from England as an orphan at just 12 years of age. He worked across North America until he was 74 years old. When asked his secret to living well, he said, “I just keep thinking about doing more for the kids. That’s what keeps me going.”

About Durham College
For close to 40 years, Durham College has provided high-demand programs, professors with real-world experience, the latest technology, and an unwavering commitment to student success. Number one in the Greater Toronto Area based on a combined ranking in the areas of student, graduate, and employer satisfaction; graduate employment; and graduation rate for seven years running according to the provincial government’s indicator surveys, the college also has the highest graduate employment rate – 93.1 per cent – of all six GTA colleges. The college has close to 6,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time students enrolled in over 100 programs and courses and over 1,500 apprentices. For more information, visit the website at www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, UOIT offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including several Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Media contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.3111 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@dc-uoit.ca

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