Trent Day Raises $1.19M to Support Financial Aid, Student Spaces & Provides Boost for Local Food Banks

Staff, faculty, alumni and community join forces to showcase Trent values of spirit, support and service during second annual event

May 4, 2022

Staff, faculty, alumni and community join forces to showcase Trent values of spirit, support and service during second annual event.

In its most successful single day of giving to date, Trent Day 2022 raised $1,190,463 to support Trent University student spaces and financial aid, while also collecting more than 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food items for local food banks.

The second annual Trent Day, held on Friday, April 8, included live-streamed virtual social events and fundraisers that supported the Trent Fund (a high-impact fund to support student’s most emergent needs), student financial aid, as well as the new amphitheatre and capital projects at Traill College, and food drives on both campuses to support Kawartha Food Share in Peterborough and Feed the Need in Durham.

“Our phenomenal Trent spirit is shining brighter than ever as the Trent family showcases our founding values of support, spirit and service,” said Sherry Booth, associate vice-president, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at Trent University. “We thank all of the generous individuals who showed their Trent pride by valuing student success and the well-being of our campus communities.”

Trent Day is an annual event that marks the April 1963 signing of the Trent Act, which formalized the incorporation of the University as a degree-granting institution, and pays tribute to the University’s history, values and community. It is celebrated locally in Peterborough and Durham, and by alumni around the world, by coming together to support student needs, showcase school spirit, and give back through volunteer service and philanthropy.

The Trent University Alumni Association kicked off this year’s event with a 24-hour fundraising challenge with $20,000 in matching funds to support the Trent Fund and emerging student needs. New monthly donors were a key driver of this fundraiser’s success, as well as 75 volunteers who volunteered at various Trent Day of Service sites across Canada including the on-campus stations to collect non-perishables.

“With community members and students relying on food banks now more than ever, especially with the rising cost of living, the Trent family wanted to do what we could to help our community,” Ms. Booth said.

Virtual social events throughout the day included the popular PINGO (Pig’s Ear Bingo). The Trent community also celebrated Trent Day and the Trent spirit by sharing stories and photos across social media using the #TrentDay hashtag.

“We know alumni around the world enjoyed celebrating their Trent memories and helping ensure the University can offer a transformational experience for generations to come,” said Lee Hays, director of Alumni & Donor Engagement for Trent University. “We are grateful for each donation, each act of volunteerism and, above all, hope everyone had fun showing their Trent pride.”