Giving back: it’s a habit she can’t quit
“I have so much gratitude for the time that I spent at Laurier. I grew as a person there, and I also really value what Laurier’s trying to achieve, in the type of education that it’s trying to deliver for students. It’s something that checks my list of where my values are, and I encourage others to do the same.”
For Laurier Psychology and Communications Studies alumna Laura Crochetiere (BA ’08), charitable giving isn’t just for folks who have large amounts to donate.
“We can also make a difference with small amounts,” she says. “Whatever we can give, even if it’s $10, it’s more about giving an amount you feel comfortable with and making it a habit.”
Crochetiere has been a regular donor to Laurier since she graduated, giving to particular areas that aligned with her experience, empathy and values such as mental health initiatives and Laurier’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
For her, it’s personal. “It helps to think about the causes that you value and then figure out how to give back.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors like Crochetiere, Laurier has become a leader among Ontario universities for our approach to mental health. In 2019, 541 donors gave $95,273 to mental health initiatives at Laurier. By offering various types of programs – everything from financial literacy workshops for students to mental health first-aid training for staff – Laurier is working hard to prevent, rather than react to, mental health crises.
“It’s been over ten years since I graduated, and we have much more appreciation now for mental health and the importance of giving people the support they need. I was happy to see that Laurier is taking mental health seriously.”
Since March, faculty, staff and students have been working together to provide the best possible care for those who are struggling during the pandemic, and the disruption to the student experience puts the mental wellness of postsecondary students at even greater risk.
“At the beginning of the pandemic there was a lot of fear,” says Crochetiere. “When I heard about the Laurier COVID-19 Emergency Fund, I thought about how incredibly difficult it would be to be a first-year student. My heart goes out to them, and I just think it’s worthwhile to put resources in to try and help them have a good year.”
Crochetiere encourages potential donors to find causes that align with their values, and to give what makes them comfortable.
For Laurier Psychology and Communications Studies alumna Laura Crochetiere (BA ’08), charitable giving isn’t just for folks who have large amounts to donate.
“We can also make a difference with small amounts,” she says. “Whatever we can give, even if it’s $10, it’s more about giving an amount you feel comfortable with and making it a habit.”
Crochetiere has been a regular donor to Laurier since she graduated, giving to particular areas that aligned with her experience, empathy and values such as mental health initiatives and Laurier’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
For her, it’s personal. “It helps to think about the causes that you value and then figure out how to give back.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors like Crochetiere, Laurier has become a leader among Ontario universities for our approach to mental health. In 2019, 541 donors gave $95,273 to mental health initiatives at Laurier. By offering various types of programs – everything from financial literacy workshops for students to mental health first-aid training for staff – Laurier is working hard to prevent, rather than react to, mental health crises. “It’s been over ten years since I graduated, and we have much more appreciation now for mental health and the importance of giving people the support they need. I was happy to see that Laurier is taking mental health seriously.”
Since March, faculty, staff and students have been working together to provide the best possible care for those who are struggling during the pandemic, and the disruption to the student experience puts the mental wellness of postsecondary students at even greater risk.
“At the beginning of the pandemic there was a lot of fear,” says Crochetiere. “When I heard about the Laurier COVID-19 Emergency Fund, I thought about how incredibly difficult it would be to be a first-year student. My heart goes out to them, and I just think it’s worthwhile to put resources in to try and help them have a good year.”
Crochetiere encourages potential donors to find causes that align with their values, and to give what makes them comfortable.