A legacy of leadership

There’s a history of philanthropy at the University of Lethbridge that is rooted in meaningful and personal relationships between donors and the institution they support. This rings true for generations of those who have held leadership roles associated with ULethbridge, from senior administrative to volunteer positions.

Current Board of Governors Chair Dean Gallimore (BMgt ’84) is one of those leaders who is continuing the legacy of giving back to the school to which he feels indebted.

“Between my wife Bev and I and our two daughters, we have six university degrees, and all six came from the University of Lethbridge. I owe the University for the education it gave me and my family,” says Gallimore.

He says the relationship he has with the school is not unlike many past ULethbridge leaders who paved the way for his educational experience and subsequently that of his wife and daughters. There’s a personal connection to the school that runs deep.

“There’s no question about it. All the leaders in the past who I’ve seen have given, almost all of them have a very good connection with the University one way or another, whether it’s a personal connection, through a family member, or just having had the opportunity to appreciate the impact the University and its students have on the community,” adds Gallimore.

He and his family had earmarked an estate gift for the University down the road, and when the Board of Governors announced its matching campaign for student scholarships, it motivated them to give now.

“What really resonated to make a gift now was the fact that the matching fund program was available,” says Gallimore. “We effectively were able to double the contribution that we otherwise would have made because of the matching money and that will now help even more students.”

Gallimore was fortunate enough to receive scholarship assistance as a student. Couple that with the money he earned while working, he was able to pay for his own education entirely. And while his parents would have gladly assisted him if he’d needed help covering costs, he acknowledges many students do not have that backing and sorely need scholarship support.

“I was fortunate in that respect and I’m proud of the fact that between scholarships and myself working, I was able to support myself and pay for university,” he says.

“A lot of students or potential students don’t have a support network and they really need scholarships. I’m proud to be part of a community that makes that happen.”

And while gifting is often referred to as a donation, Gallimore says he sees it as more of an investment — in students, the community and society.

“There’s a current investment and an immediate spin-off where you are supporting students and they are boosting the community economically, but when those students turn into productive contributors to society in whatever field they’ve chosen to pursue, now you’ve made an investment in the future of your community and communities around the world.”

Read more about the impact of gifting: