Students at Okanagan College will have greater opportunities to stay active, build connections and support their well-being thanks to a combined $100,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Kelowna and the Rotary Club of the Ogopogo.
From left to right: Jim Kentel, Braden McKay, Robin Smith, President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna, Geoff McIntyre and Darcy Haw.
The two Rotary clubs have contributed the funds to the Thrive Here campaign for the Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre, supporting a ground-floor, multi-purpose activity studio.
The gift reflects the collective generosity of hundreds of golfers, whisky enthusiasts, sponsors and volunteers who supported the Rotary Pro-Am Golf Tournament and the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo's annual Charity Whisky Tasting. Together, the Rotary clubs are helping to create a healthier, more connected campus community for current and future students.
"Rotary has a long history of bringing people together to create positive change, and this gift is a wonderful example of that spirit in action," said Helen Jackman, executive director, Okanagan College Foundation. "We are incredibly grateful to both Rotary clubs and everyone who helped make this gift possible."
The Rotary Club of Kelowna contributed $75,000 from the proceeds of its Rotary Pro-Am Golf Tournament, one of the Central Okanagan's longest-running charitable sporting events. For more than three decades, the tournament has brought together business leaders, professional and amateur golfers, and community supporters to raise funds for local causes. The club selected Okanagan College's Recreation and Wellness Centre as a major beneficiary of its 2026 event.
"The Rotary Pro-Am succeeds because our community believes in giving back," said Robin Smith, president of the Rotary Club of Kelowna. "We're proud to see the proceeds from this event help create a space that will benefit students and the broader community for generations. Supporting education, health and community has always been at the heart of what Rotary does."
The Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo contributed $25,000 from proceeds raised through its annual Charity Whisky Tasting, a popular community event hosted at Okanagan College. The event has welcomed hundreds of guests while raising funds for local charities and student-focused initiatives for 17 years.
"We're thrilled to support a project that will have such a meaningful impact on students and our community," said President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, Brian Hillaby. "This contribution represents years of support from attendees, sponsors and volunteers who share a commitment to helping others."
Set to open this fall at the Kelowna campus, the Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre will provide opportunities for fitness and recreation while strengthening ties between the College and the broader community through expanded public access and programming.
This gift is a powerful reflection of what can be achieved when a community comes together around a shared purpose. Okanagan College Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Kelowna, the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, and everyone who contributed to this remarkable effort.
Brian Dick, winner of the whisky tasting contest (left) and Brian Hillaby, President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo (right).
As the project nears completion and the Thrive Here campaign approaches its fundraising goal, community members interested in supporting the Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre can learn more or make a gift at https://www.okanagancollege.ca/oc-foundation/recreation-and-wellness-centre.
