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91��ɫ Retirees Walk to Raise Funds for Library Study Pods

The 91��ɫ Retirees’ Association (YURA) held its annual 5 km walk, the YURA Challenge, on the Keele campus on Tuesday, October 6^th, with thirty-three retirees and campus friends taking part.  More than $32,000 was raised for library study pods through donations from retirees, friends, family, and former colleagues and co-workers to sponsor the YURA team in this year’s walk.

Since 2019, YURA has engaged in a 5 km walk/run to raise funds for various student causes, first in support of endowing the YURA Graduate Student Award (now offered to three graduate students annually), then to assist with student food security initiatives, and the past two years to help the University Library acquire study pods. 

Says Steve Dranitsaris, YURA Co-President and co-lead of this year’s YURA Challenge initiative with Marc Wilchesky, “91��ɫ retirees continue to show their interest in giving back in ways that support students and their academic success.  We have enjoyed an excellent collaboration this year with the Library and the University’s Advancement team and are delighted by both the number of donors and participants in the walk.”

This year's core fundraising team included Marla Chodak, Grace Chui, Steve Dranitsaris, Sheila Forshaw, Agnes Fraser, Steve Glassman, Debbie Hansen, Fazyah Mohammed, Harvey Skinner, Peter Victor, Marc Wilchesky and Diane Woody.

Participants in October 6th walk were Nicole Arsenault, Phil Blair, Joylyn Brown Bogle, Marla Chodak, Grace Chui, Sarah Coysh, Theja De Silva, Sherryl Deane, Steve Dranitsaris, Christiane Dumont, Sheila Forshaw, Michele Francis, Agnes Fraser, Erica Garber, Steve Glassman, Ian Greene, Debbie Hansen, Susan Harris, Helen Jung, Molly Ladd-Taylor, Rebecca Lickiss, Linda Peake, Alan Peng, Alice Pitt, Catherine Salole, Marta Simidchieva, Harvey Skinner, Lynn Taylor, Fran Wilkinson, John Wilson, Diane Woody and Lorna Wright. This year's campus walk included a tour and talk (given in segments) about campus trees with John Wilson, a 91��ɫ retiree and certified arborist, as the walk leader. Participants were welcomed at the start of the walk by Vice-President (Equity, People & Culture) Parissa Safai; Jane Grant hosted the gathering in the YURA office following the walk where participants were also joined by Marisa Barlas of the University's Advancement Office. Due to personal circumstances, Peter Victor and Marc Wilchesky both completed the 5 km walk on their own.

About “Study Pods”

These self-contained soundproof booths offer students privacy, comfort, and power outlets and they can make a real and lasting difference in their success.  The pods are also ideal for virtual classes, online or oral exams, job interviews, mentorship calls and for students with sensory stimulation concerns.

Through its collaboration with the University’s Libraries, YURA is hopeful that 91��ɫ students can enjoy the same advantages as their peers at U of T and McGill, where study pods have already been introduced and are in high demand. 

YURA Donated $30,000 in 2025 to Purchase the first two Study Pods

In 2025, the first year of our campaign to raise funds for six Study Pods, almost $19,000 was raised in the annual YURA Challenge fundraiser.  Facing a cost of $15,000 for each study pod, the YURA Executive Committee decided at calendar year-end to donate an additional $11,000 from its accumulated surplus funds so that a total of $30,000 would be available for the University Libraries to move forward with the acquisition of two study pods.  These first two Study Pods will soon be installed in the Bronfman Library in the Schulich School of Business.

When installed, each pod will bear an inscription proudly acknowledging YURA’s role. 

The 2026 Walk will fund two more Study Pods

Initially, YURA had established a goal of $15,000 to fund a third study pod.  An extra incentive was created when an anonymous donor offered a $5,000 gift to top-up the $15,000 if YURA members could achieve this goal. Our YURA Challenge fundraising team then reached out to all YURA members to seek sponsorships for the team of YURA members doing the 5 km walk. By early September, the $15,000 was achieved and topped up with the $5,000. Once the $20,000 was in hand, the anonymous donor then offered a further $5,000 if YURA members could raise another $5,000. By September 25th, the additional $5,000 was raised, so with the second $5,000 top-up, there is now $30,000 for the University Libraries to acquire two additional study pods! All thanks to the generosity of YURA members, friends, family and former co-workers and colleagues -- and, of course, the magnanimity of our anonymous donor.

Can Donations Still be Made?

There is still an opportunity to contribute to the Study Pods initiative with funds donated being earmarked for the acquisition of a fifth study pod. In 2025, YURA had committed to raised funds over a three-year period to acquire a total of six study pods, so donations made will help YURA achieve this goal and bolster YURA's efforts to support students.

Through this innovative initiative in the Libraries, YURA members continue their tradition of “giving back” to the University and supporting student success.

Participants in the 2026 YURA Challenge Walk

Click here to view more pics from the 2026 walk

Glen Norcliffe runs 10km as part of the YURA Challenge