December 24, 2003 For Immediate Release

A municipal councillor from Terrace is the first president of the Northern Medical Programs Trust following a recent meeting of the NMPT Board of Directors.

President: Marilyn Davies, Terrace councillor
Vice President: Colin Kinsley, Mayor of Prince George
Secretary: Rose Colledge, Tumbler Ridge councillor
Treasurer: Sharon Cochran, Vice-President Administration & Finance for UNBC

The Northern Medical Programs Trust is the result of a partnership between northern communities and the University to support the Northern Medical Program and its future students. To date, 20 communities have become members and pledged to provide financial and political support to the program. The fundraising amount for each community is based on local population.

A number of items were discussed at the initial board meeting:
• a general update on the NMP and the Northern Health Sciences Centre
• identification of potential funding sources
• timelines and milestones for raising funds
• preliminary ideas on how the interest earnings from the NMP Trust could best be used to support students in the program.

It is expected that the NMPT will convene its next membership meeting no later than the NCMA meeting in Fort Nelson in May 2004.

“UNBC will continue to work on behalf of the NMP Trust by seeking the financial support of major corporations and others with operations in various northern communities,” says Tom Berekoff, UNBC Director of Development. “We’re managing the charitable gift processing and investment of the funds, assisting with local fundraising efforts where possible, and otherwise supporting the NMP Trust communications efforts.”

To date, the NMPT has raised about $250,000. The goal is to raise $6 million within five years. Most of the communities participating in the program have already made contributions toward their pledge amounts.