This story was written for Thompson Rivers University's Report on Philanthropy, an annual print and web publication produced by TRU Advancement to showcase the impact of philanthropic support for the university. The report prioritizes human-interest storytelling to highlight why philanthropy matters. This story was selected because it emphasized the deep and impactful role philanthropy plays in times of crisis, times of need, and times of tragedy. The story is about the death of TRU men's volleyball player Owyn McInnis and the scholarship that was created in his memory after an outpouring of support from communities near and far—including an initial donation of $20,000 from an anonymous donor. We spoke to Owyn's mother about her final memories of Owyn and how the scholarship honored his memory. Many people told us they cried when they read this story in the Report on Philanthropy. The Report on Philanthropy is an important communication tool that is mailed to every donor who has made a gift that year and is mailed to all first-time donors. It's also distributed internally at TRU to demonstrate the work of advancement. Showing the role philanthropy played in this tragedy was one way we showcased why philanthropy matters. The report is printed and also presented online at tru.ca/giving.
From the Judges
This was a purpose-driven piece that stood out. We appreciated the writer’s deep engagement with the subject, crafting a personal and emotional narrative that thoughtfully connected back to the theme of philanthropy. Overall, a compelling and powerful story.
