Scotiabank Caribbean Continues To Support UWI

TORONTO, Ontario – As The University of the West Indies prepares to host its sixth annual Toronto Benefit Gala, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, it will recognize the generous contributions of its Lead Sponsor, Scotiabank.

This financial institution has donated annually, over the past five years, to this popular event on Toronto’s social calendar. Over $750,000 has been raised at this annual gala, which includes Scotiabank’s annual contribution, awarding approximately 200 scholarships to Caribbean students in financial need.

Bruce Bowen, Senior Vice President, Caribbean Region, Scotiabank, has been the face and senior representative of the financial institution at the annual gala. Mr. Bowen has been involved in the bank’s Caribbean region since 2008 with a hands on approach in many of the community initiatives and outreach across UWI’s three main campuses.

Scotiabank has a close relationship with the UWI and it will continue to foster this great partnership,” said Bruce Bowen, “there are many common elements in the mandates of our two institutions – both Scotiabank and UWI are deeply committed to the development and growth of the region’s youth.”

Scotiabank is an integral part of the Caribbean region and reaches into most communities, supporting dozens of events and programs including education and The UWI Toronto Benefit Gala is one such.

Additionally, on the UWI campuses, Scotiabank has supported the following:

In Trinidad at UWI’s St. Augustine Campus, faculty awards have been given in the business studies departments. For the last three years, Scotiabank has presented monetary awards to UWI faculties, eight students receive bursaries annually and Scotiabank is the sponsor of the UWI Classical Concert. This is a new sponsorship and Scotiabank is the only corporate sponsor; taking the lead in supporting where education meets culture and celebrating the creativity of the alumni.

In Barbados, UWI’s Cave Hill Campus, the first Scotiabank Scholarship was offered in 1967 and that scholarship continues to this day with additional bursaries given to second and third year students. Ten bursaries will be given in 2015 and five will be given next year.

At Jamaica’s Mona Campus, Scotiabank sponsors the 5K Run, benefiting scholarships for financially needy UWI students. The Head of Scotiabank’s Human Resources sits on the Placement & Career Services Board at the UWI.

In Jamaica, Scotiabank is involved with:

• The campus’ annual Career Awareness Month
• The Job Shadowing Experience Program, involving 10 students in their final year to be placed in Scotiabank’s Summer Internship Programme, and
• The Mock Interview Programme for students in their final year.

“UWI is grateful to the contributions of Bruce Bowen and Scotiabank, which have assisted the university and its students for many years in achieving its goals,” said Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement Division at The University of the West Indies, and convenor of the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala.

“The annual UWI Toronto Benefit Gala has not only contributed funds for students in need but has also raised the profile, in Canada, of the university and Scotiabank’s Caribbean Region.”

The leading bank in the Caribbean, Scotiabank’s history in the Caribbean dates back to 1889, when the first branch opened in Kingston, Jamaica, to serve the export trade.

For over 175 years, Scotiabank has had a history of giving back to its communities in order to create better places to live and work, and helps students achieve their full potential by supporting universities across the Caribbean.