“Heart of a Champion” Scholarship Dinner

We raised over $30,000 at the 11th annual Heart of a Champion Dinner at Elisa Steakhouse in Vancouver on April 16, 2025!
Hosted by the Spartan Foundation, this annual dinner took place at Elisa Steakhouse, the #1 Chophouse in Canada!

Fueling Dreams with Financial Need Scholarships

On April 16, we hosted our annual Heart of a Champion Dinner, raising vital funds for financial need-based scholarships. These scholarships help ensure no student-athlete is held back from pursuing their calling due to financial hardship.

We heard firsthand from Danika Dool, a graduating rugby athlete, and Cedrik Iyumva, a track & field alum, about how your generosity has opened doors, broken barriers, and laid the foundation for lasting transformation.

“Being a student-athlete at TWU, through kind donations, gave me community, broke socioeconomic barriers, and gave me and many others an avenue to go on as part of a larger competitive and Christ-centered environment… I left a leader, equipped to serve, lead, and build others up in the same way I was built up.”

— Cedrik Iyumva, TWU Spartans Track & Field Alum

“Through grants from donors like you, the Spartan Foundation filled in the gaps so I could complete the program of my dreams while playing a final year of rugby… Without financial aid, I would not have been on the leadership team or even played this past year. I am one of many athletes who can say this.”

— Danika Dool, TWU Spartans Women’s Rugby Athlete (Class of 2025)
View Danika’s full speech here.

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!

Dinner Sponsor – Sightline Properties
Wine Sponsors – Alder West Poultry, and Brackish Consulting Group
Reception Sponsor – DO Philanthropy Inc.

Vancouver

10th Annual Heart of a Champion Dinner
January 31, 2024
Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

$21,000 raised!

9th Annual Heart of a Champion Dinner
January 26, 2023
L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Sponsors: GLC Solutions Inc., Sightline Properties, Gramercy Developments, Alder West Poultry, Valley Commons and Trading Post Brewing

$33,000 raised!

8th Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
April 20, 2022
Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Sponsors: GLC Solutions Inc., Sightline Properties, M&L Painting Ltd., Alder West Poultry Ltd., and Valley Commons

$40,000 raised!

Watch guest speaker, Lynn DuMerton, share at the Scholarship Dinner on April 20, 2022

Watch Video

7th Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
Due to COVID restrictions, this event was cancelled.
However, thanks to some very generous donors, we were still able to raise over $30,000 towards academic scholarships!

6th Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
January 22, 2020
Coast Restaurant, Vancouver

Sponsors: GLC Solutions, Sightline Properties, M&L Painting Ltd., Alder West Poultry Ltd. Benchmark Homes
Guest Speakers: Dr. Mark Husbands (TWU President), Spencer Gerth (Men’s Hockey; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$31,000 raised (29 guests)

5th Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
January 29, 2019
Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Sponsors: Jordon Development, GLC Solutions, M&L Painting
Guest Speakers: Scott Fehrenbacher, Amy Gartke (Women’s Soccer; President’s Scholarship Award recipient), Tyrell Mara (TWU Spartan Alumni in training for the 2020 Olympics )
$28,500 raised (28 guests)

4th Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
February 6, 2018
Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Sponsors: Nicola Wealth Management, GLC Solutions, M&L Painting, Joyful Living Joyful Giving Foundation
Guest Speakers: President Bob Kuhn, David Boyd (Track & Field; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$28,800 raised (31 guests)

3rd Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
February 7, 2017
Ancora Waterfront Restaurant, Vancouver

Sponsors: Nicola Wealth Management, Avisar Chartered Accountants, GLC Solutions, M&L Painting
Guest Speakers: President Bob Kuhn and Ryan Sclater (Men’s Volleyball; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$31,000 raised (30 guests)

2nd Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
February 2, 2016
Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Sponsors: GLC Solutions, M&L Painting, Nicola Wealth Management
Guest Speakers: President Bob Kuhn and Kayla Gordon (Women’s Basketball; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$31,800 raised (32 guests)

Calgary

2017 President’s Scholarship Dinner
March 8, 2017
Charbar, Calgary

Sponsors: Canwest Flooring and Advance Flooring, Nicola Wealth Management
Guest Speakers: President Bob Kuhn and Leanne Verhoeff (Women’s Soccer; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$28,000 raised (28 guests)

2016 Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner
March 17, 2016
Charbar, Calgary

Guest Speakers: President Bob Kuhn, Lorne Jacobson (TriWest Capital Partners/TWU Board of Directors) and Stephanie Chin (Women’s Soccer; President’s Scholarship Award recipient)
$16,000 raised (26 guests)