The Bigfoot Donuts Bursary: A story of community support
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Sometimes, community impact starts with something as simple as a donut. In 2021, Comox Valley business owners Lyndsay Bell and Jay Valeri turned their love of community and education into action.
Owners of Bigfoot Donuts, Lyndsay Bell and Jay Valeri, photographed in their Downtown Courtenay location.
In honour of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the owners of Bigfoot Donuts established a bursary through the North Island College Foundation.
Funded by proceeds from donut sales every September 30, along with donations from customers, the award supports a First Nation, Inuit or Métis student pursuing business or culinary studies at NIC.
Awarded for the first time in 2022, this bursary is more than a financial award - it’s a symbol of allyship, entrepreneurship and the kind of grassroots generosity that powers student success.
As NIC celebrates 50 years of learning, partnerships like this remind us of what’s possible when local businesses and community members come together to support student success.