Humber College announces new Longo Faculty of Business and Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship
by CM Staff
The endowment includes support for leading experts and visiting professors who will deliver an intensive training and mentorship program and provide start-up funds to advance student entrepreneurs.
TORONTO — A $5-million gift from the Longo Family Foundation to Humber College will attempt to help create a new generation of entrepreneurs while also strengthening economies and building up communities.
This gift will try and remove barriers to education and business development through scholarships and seed funding for entrepreneurs, as well as provide critical support for mentorship, networking and skills development.
In recognition of this support, Humber’s Faculty of Business and Centre for Entrepreneurship will now be named the Longo Faculty of Business and the Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship. With this gift, Humber’s Unlimited Campaign exceeds its $50-million fundraising goal.
The Longo Family Foundation was established in 1998 with a vision to contribute to a world of strong, healthy families.
“As a graduate from Humber’s Business Administration program, I am personally connected to the important cause of fueling entrepreneurship in Canada and helping dreams become a reality,” said Anthony Longo, president and CEO of Longo’s. “It is incredibly rewarding to know that our contribution will help keep Canadian youth engaged, inspired and innovating for our future.”
Anthony Longo attended Humber in 1982 and has since served as Chair of Humber’s Board of Governors and Co-Chair of Unlimited, the College’s first-ever fundraising campaign.
“We know that supporting the creation and success of small to medium-sized businesses plays an important role in helping Canada’s economy thrive,” said Chris Whitaker, president and CEO, of Humber College. “We are grateful to the Longo family for their investment in Humber’s polytechnic approach to business education and leadership in helping all of us build back better.”
The gift has four areas of focus:
- An endowment to enhance student access and opportunity and support diversity through the Longo Family Scholarship Program in Small Business Entrepreneurship.
- An endowment to support leading experts and visiting professors who will deliver an intensive training and mentorship program and provide start-up funds to advance student entrepreneurs through the Longo Family Leader-in-Residence in Small Business Management program.
- The Longo Family Be Your Own Boss Workshops and Video Pitch Competition to provide seed money to aspiring business creators and scholarship support to high school students.
- The Longo Family Advisory: Student Business Consulting, a student-led consulting business that will offer free professional business management advice to local businesses.
