U of T student groups build community with the help of generous annual donors

Dec 20, 2024

The Good Ideas Fund or GIF, one of Hart House’s Innovation Fund programs, inspires donors to contribute. Such generosity has had an impact; this funding was used to create gardens where students can connect, engage, build community and contribute to sustainable food solutions on the St. George campus.

A laptop screen with text that reads "Good Ideas Fund: Idea bank (need title)

Through annual gifts to Hart House, donors are helping University of Toronto students find community, make friends, explore new interests and become well-rounded individuals.

“Donors to the Good Ideas Fund are making a real difference in the lives of students,” says Peter Wambera, associate director of advancement. “Their gifts are enhancing the student experience and helping today’s students feel empowered and connected.”

Michelle Brownrigg, senior director, Co-Curricular Education & chief program officer, describes how it works: “With the donors’ contributions to GIF, student groups or students at any U of T campus can apply to access this funding for their good idea, as it pertains to building community. This is an excellent way for any group of students with a unique idea to do just that.”

GIF innovations mean more student support

The Innovation Fund receives donations from many people. Taken together, they have great impact. Donors have allowed Hart House to make strategic investments in the Good Ideas Fund and reach more students. Donors supported significant program expansion.

Their gifts are enhancing the student experience and helping today’s students feel empowered and connected.

“With this additional funding, we can expand the number of student groups who will receive support this year ‒ possibly up to a 50% increase this fall,” Peter explains. “All thanks to donors.”

Their gifts are enhancing the student experience and helping today’s students feel empowered and connected.

“A real passion project” ‒ community gardens illustrate real impact

The Victoria College Community Garden, located outside Annesley Hall, is an excellent example of GIF in action. This pilot project is the brainchild of fourth-year student and former sustainability commissioner of the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (VUSAC), Amy Mann.

Amy explained in a related article by Dan Blackwell, “This community garden was a real passion project. I loved working with our many volunteers to really connect with the larger U of T community.”

This community garden began small – literally, with seedlings of kale, lettuce and tomatoes, grown nearby under special lights in the basement of St. Hilda’s College residence – but today the 60-square-foot garden thrives. It harvested its first batch of vegetables this September. Open to all Victoria College students, this garden represents an opportunity for students to connect with each other and grow what they eat, since the vegetables will be served to undergrads using the Burwash Dining Hall.

It also offers a chance for students to learn gardening. “It’s a unique experience being part of your food system and growing food that ends up being consumed by students, especially in Toronto where most don’t have any space to garden,” says Amy in the related article.

Amy’s team welcomes more students as volunteers. “At our seed starting event, we had students, staff and faculty in attendance, but we want to encourage as many students as we can to help and get involved,” she said in the article.

Another novel community garden was created through GIF by U of T’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB). EWB is a student organization at U of T, a community of changemakers passionate about creating system-based solutions that address the causes of issues in our university, local and global communities. EWB incubates impactful projects, runs inspiring workshops and events, and focuses on the personal development of its members.

This garden, located on the grounds of Hart House, involved engineering students inventing a new watering system. In this project, students have the chance to lead a team in smart gardening technology; gain hands-on experience; develop real-world hardware skills; and drive impactful, sustainable solutions.

Both community gardens are concrete examples that illustrate how donor contributions to GIF can lead to life-changing, student-driven, community-building initiatives.