USC will tomorrow celebrate the enormous impact made by hundreds of generous donors whose support for the University has helped make amazing things happen within the community.

Donations have enabled the development of facilities like the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience – Thompson Institute (a world-class centre for mental health research, teaching and clinical services), the USC Art Gallery, which has the largest public collection of art on the Sunshine Coast, and the USC Sports Precinct, which is home to several elite-level sporting teams.

Philanthropy has also enabled the University to award donor-funded scholarships, bursaries and prizes totalling more than $800,000 to about 300 USC students each year to acknowledge academic achievement and provide financial assistance to those in need.

To honour its generous donors, USC will hold a Celebration of Philanthropy from 5.30-7.30pm on Tuesday 24 September at USC’s Innovation Centre Auditorium.

About 200 guests are registered to attend this event, which will include a keynote address by USC Chancellor Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d) and a panel presentation by scholarship donors and a student recipient.

USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said philanthropy had played a vital and important role in USC’s history.

“Our supporters and friends contribute significantly to USC’s continuing development through donations and bequests, helping students excel in their studies, funding important research, improving our campus and giving back to our community,” he said.

“Buildings have been built and gifted, our art collection has grown, research has been enabled and our students have been supported. All of this has had a tremendous and positive impact on our community.”

— Terry Walsh