A Way Home Kamloops is creating the Katherine McParland Memorial Bursary with the goal of helping at-risk youth go to college or university.
Executive Director Tangie Genshorek says they’ve partnered with the B.C. Interior Community Foundation (BCICF) as well as with the TD Davis Wealth Management Team to make this bursary a reality.
“It will be given to youth who have challenges, who are at risk themselves and who are moving into social work and human services, and health and addictions and we’re really excited to be able to mark this really sad anniversary in a positive way,” she said.
The bursary was announced on Dec. 1, three days before the one-year anniversary of McParland’s passing. Genshorek says the idea is to use the bursary to keep McParland’s legacy alive.
“We’ve created an endowment fund that will result in a bursary that we can provide every year. So that is really in line with our vision here, with Katherine’s vision of what should happen with youth and it will help them achieve their goals,” she said.
“We’ll be able to start out with about $1,000, and we’re thinking that that will go to one youth to start out the first year. How much we can help really depends on how many people contribute to the endowment fund so the more people who contribute, the more youth we can help.”
As well, with the fifth annual Campout To End Youth Homelessness set for Dec. 10, A Way Home Kamloops will be holding a memorial to Katherine that evening.
“Katherine will forever hold a special place in the community’s heart, which is why we wished to extend the invite for those who want honour her memory by joining us on Dec. 10 for the memorial presentations marking the one-year anniversary of her passing,” A Way Home Kamloops Programs Manager, Kira Cheeseborough, said.
“This year’s memorial will happen between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.. However, we welcome everyone interested in attending the memorial to Campout at home afterwards, as we know Katherine would have loved seeing the community rally together to continue our work in providing tangible supports to youth in need.”
Anyone looking to donate to the bursary or to the Camp Out to End Youth Homeless can do so here.
