On Friday, Dec. 10, Seneca's King Township Women of Influence Giving Circle gathered virtually for their annual pitch-presentation meeting to learn about initiatives at King Campus that require financial support. Each year the King Giving Circle listens to and evaluates pitches from students and employees on ways to improve the student experience; selecting a winning group every year to receive $10,000 of their donated funds to support a project.

Due to the pandemic, there were no pitch-presentations in 2020. Since no funds were allocated last year, the King Giving Circle made the unprecedented decision to fund two very worthy causes at King Campus this year.

Dr. Camie Condon, Academic Program Co-ordinator, Honours Bachelor of Crime & Intelligence Analysis degree program, and Gary Galbraith, Chair, School of Public Safety & Behavioural Studies and School of Recreation & Environmental Studies, shared their plan to use open-source data and analytical techniques to identify high density sex-trafficking areas and barriers to victims accessing assistance, and provide actionable intelligence and background information on high-risk situational indicators. The project will offer an applied learning and professional development opportunity for 10 student researchers from the Crime & Intelligence Analysis program and Police Foundations diploma program. The funding from the King Giving Circle will allow each student to receive a $1,000 honourarium in recognition of their contribution.

Jessica Johnson, Manager, Campus Services, presented the idea for the Seneca Soup Program, an initiative that will fight food insecurity on campus by providing access to a free bowl of filling and nutritious soup to all students. After signing up, students will be able to tap their OneCard for payment with the cafeteria cashier to receive free soup, blending in seamlessly with students who are purchasing their food. With each bowl of soup costing $1.33 to produce, the King Giving Circle funding will provide 7,518 bowls of soup to students at King Campus. The Seneca Soup Program will be rolled out at King, Markham, Newnham and Seneca@York campuses in January 2022.

For more information on the King Township Women of Influence Giving Circle, please contact Joy Gooding, Senior Development Officer, at Joy.Gooding@senecapolytechnic.ca.