Vancouver, British Columbia — Post-secondary students have been hit particularly hard by unemployment throughout the pandemic, and Rick Hatswell president of the Craftsman Group and Vancouver Community College (VCC) alumni wants to be a part of the solution.
Hatswell donated $5,000 to the Giving Tuesday Now campaign funding emergency bursaries for VCC students.
The campaign, administered by the VCC Foundation, was launched on May 5, 2020. Through donation matching the campaign aims to raise $50,000 for a second round of emergency bursaries for VCC students affected by the pandemic.
In an online release, Hatswell stressed that it’s difficult to get apprentices—even in normal circumstances.
“We’re looking at any way we can help them build a career,” he said.
Hatswell estimates that Craftsman Collision has 54 apprentices across their 40 repair locations. Rick completed his own apprenticeship through VCC in 1997 and earned his Red Seal.
Deeley Group, a motorcycle retailer also joined the movement and donated $1,000 to the campaign, knowing their donation would be matched by the foundation.
Since April, the VCC COVID-19 Emergency Bursary Fund has distributed $195,000 to 312 students from 40 different programs.
Click here for more information or to make a donation to the VCC Foundation.
