A Coquitlam businesswoman is creating a $30,000 scholarship fund for Tri-City students as part of a series of grants aimed at supporting the local community.
This week, Sharon Perry, a chartered professional accountant and owner of Sharon Perry and Associates on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam, announced the establishment of a scholarship through the SD43 Education Foundation.
The Sharon Perry Scholarship Fund will provide two $1,000 scholarships yearly to students seeking to further their education in commerce, businesses and accountancy.
The grant is part of a $50,000 community grant to mark Perry’s 10 years in business.
Other local grant recipients include:
- NaloxHome, a youth-run anti-overdose education program, received $5,000 to assist with further educating by investing in a website and marketing materials
- Coquitlam Search and Rescue received $5,000 for the purchase of two E-Bikes which cover more terrain and allow for quicker response
- Burquitlam Seniors Housing Society received $10,000 for a gazebo and outdoor sitting area at LJ Christmas Manor, which is being named in memory of Sharon’s grandmother, Lorraine McCallum
“We started with an application process back in January 2021 in hopes that we would be introduced to organizations that we might not be aware of already and learn what might be needed from those we were already aware of and/or supported,” stated Perry on her website.
She was overwhelmed with the response and spent several weeks assessing the various grant applications.
“There is a lot of need in our community and even more so with COVID hitting all of us, something most of us could never have predicted would happen in our lifetime,” she further stated.
The scholarship is meant to support students with financial needs while also recognizing and rewarding their academic and extracurricular achievements for entering a post-secondary institution in the areas of business administration, commerce, marketing, Accounting or other General Business diploma or degree program.
Two scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded annually and are designed to help cover the costs of tuition, books and academic supplies.
Perry’s family has also been instrumental in establishing the Bruce Kehler Cardiology department at Eagle Ridge Hospital with a $1-million donation.
