University of Guelph initiatives received six awards in the 2012 Prix d’Excellence competition hosted by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE). The annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship, student recruitment and overall institutional advancement.
The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Pet Trust Animal Cancer Centre fundraising campaign won gold in the category for best development initiative. The award recognizes promotional material designed to educate people about pet cancers and the need for an animal cancer centre. A fundraising gala held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Pet Trust received a bronze award in the CCAE category for best special event. The gala attracted new donors and raised $425,000 to benefit the animal cancer centre.
Alumni Affairs and Development won silver in the category for best development initiative for a new strategic stakeholder engagement strategy for major donors that was developed as part of The BetterPlanet Project campaign. The department also won a silver award in the category for best advancement services initiative for an online giving site. Volunteers who organize team-oriented fundraising efforts on behalf of the University can use the online giving option to secure support and donations from their peers.
The Department of Communications and Public Affairs received a silver award in the category for best news release; the evaluation included the quality of writing and response from the media. The story concerned a scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs conducted by U of G researchers.
Another CCAE silver award for best community outreach initiative recognized the Meals for Haiti world-record challenge held on Johnston Green in September 2011. The student-organized event drew more than 800 people from campus and the local community to help with the famine relief project.