Stober Foundation gifts million dollar donation to support UBCO student and public health

One of Kelowna’s best-known families is giving back to the Okanagan in a major way.

On Thursday, it was announced that Stober family, through the Stober Foundation, is committing $1-million to UBC Okanagan to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the institution’s students.

The donation will be made over the next five years, during which Aspire, a fundraising initiative, will nearly double the gift for a total of $1.9-million.

“Generations of students will graduate from UBC Okanagan having been supported by the Stober family endowment—creating a real, tangible difference in the community long into the future,” UBC’s Okanagan deputy vice-chancellor and principal Lesley Cormack said in a press release.

“With these new scholarship and fellowship opportunities in health, exercise science and mental health, not only will students benefit but so too will initiatives that improve the lives of so many in the Okanagan.”

Over those next five years, the charitable donation will go towards needs-based and merit-based scholarships as well as immediately provide critical funding for student support.

One example is the UBC Okanagan Social Work Mental Health Clinic, where the money will provide 15 student practicum placements with the potential to serve up to 75 clients and their families.

“These kinds of training and learning opportunities in service to the community are the reason this partnership between UBC Okanagan and the Stober Foundation are so impactful,” Stober Foundation executive director Keith Brewster said.

“We have the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and deliver quality, evidence-based research and ideas to those that need it most.”

The Stober Foundation is well known for its charitable initiatives, earlier in 2020, the foundation committing $500,000 to help develop a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College.