Six Years of Impact: Trent Giving Day Surpasses $2.6M in Support of Student Opportunities
2026 campaign adds $121,000 to expand student-focused programs and initiatives
The Trent University community raised more than $121,000 during the 2026 Trent Giving Day pushing total Giving Day contributions past $2.6 million in support of students over the past six years.
"Thank you to the Trent community for your generosity that strengthens our student supports and reflects our shared commitment to their future and the momentous impact they will have on the world," says Sandy Marett, associate vice president of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at Trent University.
Launched in 2021, Trent Giving Day is a 24-hour campaign that supports students where it matters most including on-campus employment, experiential learning, wellness initiatives, scholarships, and enhancements to collegiate and campus spaces.
Strong response inspires increased matching support
This year’s campaign was strengthened by the generous support of Joanne Dereta ’72 (Lady Eaton College), who was inspired to increase her matching gift to $18,000 after seeing the strong response and participation from the Trent community on Trent Giving Day.
“Seeing the level of engagement and participation on Trent Giving Day to support Trent students encouraged me to increase my match and gift to the Trent Fund so that even more students can access opportunities and support,” Dereta said.
Trent Giving Day also highlighted the Trent Fund, the University’s most flexible source of support helping address students’ most pressing needs including financial assistance, on-campus, employment, experiential learning opportunities, and wellness supports.
Tabytha Wells ’16 (Traill) benefitted from the Trent Fund by securing on-campus employment that aligned with her research interests in Aging. Tabytha worked with the Trent Centre for Aging & Society and gained invaluable experience launching an intergenerational classroom model that fosters connection between Trent students and older adults.
“My work with TCAS was the ultimate launchpad,” said Wells, who is now completing her Master of Science in Psychology specializing in intergenerational aging studies. “It gave me the professional velocity to transition from a student to a researcher, providing the skills to ensure that academic work actively makes life more accessible and equitable for our neighbours.”
Learn more about how the Trent Fund impacts the student experience.
About the Momentous Campaign
The $100-million Momentous Campaign is the boldest fundraising initiative in Trent University’s history—an ambitious call to turn possibility into something momentous. Launched in March 2023, the Campaign supports Trent’s vision for the future: where students are empowered to lead with purpose, research drives real-world change, and physical spaces inspire connection, learning, and innovation. Through the Campaign, the University is fundraising for areas such as the Trent Fund to support student wellness, the Trent Lands and Nature Areas, the School of Education, School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, the Colleges of Trent, and the School of Graduate Studies. A key goal is to recruit 500 new monthly donors, thereby building sustainable and reliable support for students, research, and learning environments.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.