Going the extra mile: Ruth Silverman

As both an SFU alumnus and faculty member as well as a proud parent of an SFU student, Ruth has strong and long-lasting connections to the university. For more than 22 years, she has generously supported students to flourish through a variety of awards and bursaries.

What specifically motivated you to support SFU?

The specific causes at SFU that I support tend to be motivated by the privilege I have of interacting with admirable students on a day-to-day basis. My biggest donations to date have established awards for students who have thrived after completing the Back on Track Program. I started working in the program in 2007 and soon after wished that there would be a tangible way of recognizing those resilient and often overlooked students who experienced a setback in their studies and made the changes necessary to completely turn their situation around. I also have been donating to the Mike McIntosh Library Undergraduate Award, which recognizes the contributions that student volunteers and employees make to the SFU Library. 

What impact do you see your support having at the university?

I see my donations as impacting students one at a time, not only providing funding which is more and more needed every year, but sending the message that, "We see you. We value you."  An ideal university, in my view, is one in which every student feels valued for their unique journey, identity, and contributions, and this is my small contribution to that.

Why do you believe it is important to support SFU and, more broadly, higher education in Canada?

From my own experience, I know that education changes lives. It gives people their start and in some cases like mine, second and third chances, not just in terms of career, but also for personal growth, authenticity, developing one's potential, and finding a community.