Cape Breton University’s Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies recently launched a bold and innovative social media fundraising campaign on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. The online campaign can be found at http://studenthigh5.com and on twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #StudentHigh5.

The #StudentHigh5 crowd funding campaign is built solidly on the principle that even the smallest contributions can make a difference in the life of an Aboriginal learner seeking to better themselves, and their communities, by pursuing a university business education.  This grassroots social media campaign creates an important role for students to help each other and provides a recognition opportunity for all students and donors to share their stories on the fundraising website.  A social call to action is also encouraged to help spread awareness by tweeting photos of high-5’s using #StudentHigh5.

”The #StudentHigh5 campaign is an innovative way to reach out to students and their supporters across the country and beyond,” says Dr. Keith G. Brown, Vice President International and Aboriginal Affairs. “We hope the message of students helping students will resonate with a broad audience and help to raise the profile of the work of the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies. We want everyone to know that making a difference is as easy as giving a high-5.”

One of only a handful of post-secondary education institutions nationally to harness the power of crowd funding, the Purdy Crawford Chair will use the #StudentHigh5 campaign to assist in raising dollars to be matched by the Federal Government of Canada, as mentioned in the 2013 budget by the late, honorable Jim Flaherty. These funds will help the Purdy Crawford Chair national expansion, creating a more accessible program supporting Canada’s Aboriginal youth to pursue a post-secondary education in business studies. Aboriginal youth represent the fastest growing demographic in Canada.  By 2026 they will represent 22% of the labour force, yet today, 60% of students living on reserves do not graduate from high school.

“The Purdy Crawford Chair programming showed me how important it is to have a quality university education,” says Kyle Simon, a second year Bachelor of Business Administration student. “It means that I can make a genuine difference in the economic situation for my own community and for other First Nation communities. The fact that this campaign is based on Twitter and Facebook makes it easy for me to increase awareness. The $5 contribution makes it affordable for my friends and I to donate.”

The #Student High5 campaign highlights the impact that one person educated in business in each community can have on the economy and showcases the fact that education is the key to future success. This campaign fits into CBU’s strategic pillars and priorities, enhances the institutions commitment to Aboriginal education and reinforces the leadership role that CBU plays in being entrepreneurial change makers within the local community, and Canada wide.

The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies was established in 2010 and resides in Cape Breton University’s Shannon School of Business.  The mission of the Chair is to deliver the next generation of Canada’s Aboriginal business leaders and entrepreneurs resulting in economic independence, sustainability in our regional communities and overall national growth.

For more information and to donate please visit: http://studenthigh5.com/