When Mary Ann Tierney (BA ’07) first came to Brock University in 2003, she immediately felt at home.

Moving from the tight-knit town of Pembroke, Ont., it was a transformative step away from the community she grew up in, but felt immediately welcome in St. Catharines, which she said was “this big city with a small-town feel.”

During her time at Brock, the generosity of people who contributed financially to help struggling students such as herself made her experience not only more memorable, but possible.

“I come from a large family and my two older sisters were already enrolled in post-secondary institutions when I applied to Brock,” she said. “Money was tight and I relied on the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to pay for university, and then applied to as many donor funded scholarships and bursaries as possible to help me get through.”

Since graduating, Tierney joined Brock as a staff member in 2008 and has been giving back to the University ever since. As the transition program coordinator with Student Accessibility Services, she knows that by donating monthly, her gift to the Brock Fund can make a difference.

“I am grateful for the support I received during my time as a student,” she said. “Now I do what I can for others and remember that at one time, I was in their shoes. By giving back to the Brock Fund, I know that my small monthly contribution will be used to make an immediate impact on the life of a student and that together we can make a difference.”

Tierney feels fortunate that she was able to receive donor funded scholarships and bursaries.

“I hope even with my small monthly contribution I can help where it is needed most,” she said.

This year, the Department of Advancement and External Relations at Brock is launching the 2020 Faculty and Staff Campaign to show the potential that employees can unlock.

Manger of the Annual Giving Matt McRae hopes the campaign will raise awareness for the causes that can be supported within the University. He wants to use this campaign to highlight opportunities to get involved and enable faculty and staff to reflect on the collaborative success at Brock.

“We are fortunate to have a community of faculty and staff who care deeply about our student’s well-being and growth,” said McCrae. “The incline of our student satisfaction rate in the past few years is a testament to the hard work and dedication put forth by each one of us.”

The campaign, which will give donors who choose to make a generous financial contribution the chance to win monthly prizes, will run until this fall.

Join Tierney and support the University’s growth by choosing a designation that’s meaningful. From athletic programs, to study facilities, to student awards and wellness, each employee can choose where and how they would like to make a difference.

“If every employee gave a little, that still goes a long way,” said Tierney.

To learn more, visit the Faculty and Staff Campaign website.