In this picture: (L-R) Eveline Homburg, Alexander Homburg, Murray MacInnis, Holland College Director of Student Wellbeing, Accessibility, and Support, and John Horrelt, Holland College Foundation board member. Siblings Eveline and Alexander Homburg made a $50,000 gift to the Thrive campaign.

Siblings Alexander and Eveline Homburg have made a $50,000 gift to the Holland College Foundation’s Thrive campaign, a $2.5 million initiative to establish a centre for student wellness, resilience, and success at Holland College. This gift is made in dedication to their late mother, Maria Elisabeth (Marlise) Homburg-Wijsman.

“It is with great excitement that we support this important campaign, which will expand and provide students with the tools and services that Alexander and I both valued greatly during our own years of studies,” said Eveline Homburg, who is a former Holland College student. “We believe that the wellness and resilience of students is in the best interest of our community, as they represent the next generation to enter the workforce and begin contributing to our society and the economy. Their success is our success, and with the increasing expectations of today, we owe it to them to provide the tools to help them thrive.”

The Homburgs’ gift honours their late mother, Marlise, whose life story provides inspiration not only for her children and friends, but for all those whose lives she touched. To her family, she represented the epitome of dedicating oneself to a cause with her charitable work at home and abroad. Her endeavors to support women’s rights extended to Africa where, in Tanzania and Kenya, she focused on education and access to life improving resources. She led missions to build schools and water wells, she taught tribal leaders about the benefits of sexual education and disease prevention, and she moved from village to village to vaccinate livestock.

“Our mother dedicated herself to the betterment of others and taught us that the world can be a better place if we make it so,” said Alexander Homburg. “Eveline and I are proud to honour her commitment to supporting education and contributing to the growth of society by donating to Holland College’s Thrive campaign. We hope that the students can each find their own ways to benefit from the new facilities and services, and that they too one day can give back to the community that supported them.”

The centre will offer a broad, integrated suite of services including mental health supports, a health clinic, academic support services, and career and academic counselling. Students at all Holland College campuses and centres will have access to the supports they need through technology and satellite offerings.  Renovations and construction of the building are nearing completion, and the centre is scheduled to be operational in September of 2024.

“This gift aligns with many of the values that inspired Marlise’s work to strengthen our communities,” said Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, President of Holland College. “We are grateful to Eveline and Alexander for supporting the success and wellbeing of our students through this thoughtful gift in their mother’s name and memory.”

Learn more about the Thrive campaign here.