Stephanie Bellina knows first-hand the life-changing impact public generosity can have on someone's life … and how supporters of this year's QUT Giving Day on May 20 can make a difference to students' education, as well as vital research and community programs.
Back in 2014, as a 17-year-old from the small Queensland town of Childers, Stephanie moved to Brisbane and embarked on her university studies at QUT with the help of a $5000 scholarship funded by donors.
"The Learning Potential Fund helped me realise my dream of studying at university and now I'm a registered nurse," she said.
Today, Stephanie works in a hospital special care nursery and is training to move into neonatal intensive care.
The Learning Potential Fund (LPF) has provided more than 33,000 scholarships over the past 22 years to low-income students and will be one of the beneficiaries of QUT Giving Day on May 20.
The online event will highlight scholarships and research projects ranging from helping koalas after bushfires to protecting the Great Barrier Reef (see list below).
The Executive Director of QUT Advancement, Margo Powell, said 2021 marked the university's third Giving Day.
The last Giving Day in 2019 attracted about 2000 donors and raised more than $800,000.
"Giving Day is a day when people can really make a difference and support research projects and education initiatives that are designed to change the world," Ms Powell said.
"This year, our goal is to raise $1 million and rally 2,021 donors in 24 hours. We know QUT has many passionate supporters, including thousands of alumni, and we hope they can come together and make it happen.
