Ron Joyce, chair of the Joyce Foundation, announced Thursday a $10 million gift in support of students at the University of Windsor. The gift will enable the creation of the Ed Lumley Bursary, in recognition of the UWindsor chancellor’s commitment to the University of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex community.

The bursary will provide a maximum of $8,000 a year through four years of study to students from Windsor-Essex who, because of financial hardship, might not otherwise be able to attend university. A number of awards will be offered annually, making the Ed Lumley Bursary the most significant student support endowment in UWindsor history.

UWindsor president Alan Wildeman called the donation an extraordinary gift in support of students.

“We are deeply grateful to Ron Joyce and his foundation, and are indebted to chancellor Lumley for never forgetting his roots in Windsor-Essex and his belief in the power of education,” he said. “I also thank the faculty and staff who, with our chancellor, helped design the Ed Lumley Bursary to ensure that it identifies students in high schools who have financial need and a desire to go to university, and that it includes mentoring support.”

Dr. Wildeman also announced that the University’s new innovation centre on Wyandotte Street, a large portion of which is dedicated to space to support student entrepreneurs, will be named the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre.

“Benefitting students in all disciplines across our campus, the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre will house exciting activities such as our new EPICentre that are here to support those who aspire to be the next generation of entrepreneurs our country needs,” he said.

The Joyce Foundation is a private, family foundation created by the celebrated Canadian entrepreneur, co-founder of the Tim Horton’s chain, whose philosophy reflects his deep-rooted sense of responsibility to give back to community.

“The Joyce Foundation is dedicated to supporting the social, economic and emotional well-being of children and youth by empowering them to develop into healthy, confident, independent contributors to Canadian society,” Joyce said. “I am pleased to name this bursary in honour of Ed Lumley, a man who not only had a distinguished career in the private sector but also devoted a great deal of his life to public service in Canada.”

Lumley said the goal of the scholarship is to identify students who have the potential to excel not only academically but in the arts, athletics, student government, and through community service.

“We know these students have the potential to impact society in a positive way and this is a chance for them to focus on their studies and activities and worry less about finances,” he said.