News
Recipient of the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for Women named Best University Startup in the World [November 2022]
Congratulations to PragmaClin Research Inc. on being named the overall winner for early-stage startups at the global finals of the University Startup World Cup 2022. Startup companies were pitching and competing against hundreds of startups from more than 50 different countries world wide. In March of 2022, PragmaClin Research were awarded the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for Women and Non-binary Leadership and the top prize in the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship's Mel Woodward Cup Competition. Co-founders Bronwyn Bridges and Gord Genge developed and designed a remote patient monitoring system for Parkinson’s disease. Read more about this Memorial University of Newfoundland startup company in Meet the World's Best University Startups 2022.
FFF recognized in the NL House of Assembly [October 2022]
Lloyd Parrott, MHA for the District of Terra Nova, spoke in the NL House of Assembly to recognize the Fry Family Foundation and it founders Darryl and Marlene Fry on their 25 years of Community Service in and around our Province and beyond. He commended the family for their generosity over the last 25 years and thanked them for their continued support of Glovertown. Listen to Lloyd Parrott's address. The Foundation is humbled and honoured by this recognition.
FFF CNA Business Leadership Award recipient working to make the workforce more inclusive [September 2022]
Allison Seward is a graduate of the Community Leadership Development Program at College of the North Atlantic's Carbonear Campus. Read more about Allison, this year’s FFF College of the North Atlantic President’s Excellence in Leadership Achievement Award recipient in Grad awarded for leading the way. This prestigious award recognizes the CNA student who has best demonstrated high academic achievement, coupled with exceptional leadership ability and a strong commitment to the province through volunteerism.
FFF Partner Community Centre Alliance recognized for it's work in the Community [September 2022]
Read more about FFF Scholarship recipient Baraa Alkalif and the transformative work being done by the dedicated team at MacMorran Community Centre in Meet the People who make this St. John's Community Centre a hub for education, health, leisure and more. This dedication to community is also evident in the Community Centres at Froude Avenue, Virginia Park, Buckmaster's Circle and Rabbittown.
FFF Undergraduate Leadership Award recipient receives MUN Horizon Award[August 2022]
The Alumni Tribute Awards recognize Memorial University alumni who have achieved distinction in their chosen fields, are committed to their alma mater and have made outstanding contributions to their communities. The awards are the highest honour bestowed by Memorial to exceptional alumni. Zaren Healey White is the 2022 Horizon Award recipient. Zaren is also an FFF Alumni as recipient of the 2010 MUNChancellor's Undergraduate Award and Fry Family Foundation Leadership Award. Zaren is a respected communications and media expert, a writer, artist, activist and strategic communications professional. Read more in Female First.
FFF MI Leadership Award recipient has the wind at his back [July 2022]
A behind-the-scenes look at the annual Nautical Skills Competition at the Marine Institute more than four years ago set Nathan Mullins on course to working at sea. Congratulations to Nathan as he graduates with a Diploma of Technology in Nautical Science, and is already working on a Bachelor of Maritime Studies in Maritime Management. Nathan is the recipient of the prestigious 2021-22 Vice President’s FFF Excellence in Leadership Award at Marine Institute. Read more in Wind at his back.
MUN Genesis program behind the Women & Immigrants who are poised to lead NL Tech Industry [June 2022]
In 2021, FFF made a 5-year commitment to MUN Genesis to support the development and delivery of a Leadership Program for NL Women and Immigrant Entrepreneurs that would result in improved outcomes and reduced barriers. Laura Aguirre Polo, Success Manager of Belonging at Genesis, says that they have implemented initiatives and established new partnerships with community organizations in order to build an unbreakable support network for entrepreneurs. Read more in Women and immigrants poised to lead Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech industry.
FFF MI Leadership Award recipient sees the art in science [June 2022]
2021-22 FFF Leadership Award recipient Janine O'Reilly made a "complete career switch" three years ago from fine arts to marine environmental technology. She discovered an interdisciplinary program at Marine Institute and a growing environmental sector in which she hopes to make a difference. The Marine Environmental Technology program focuses on the protection and management of marine environments, rivers, lakes and coastal areas. Read more about Janine in The art of science.
MUN celebrates 25 years of student support by the Fry Family Foundation [June 2022]
What if writing a letter could lead to a life-changing impact on the lives of more than 1000 Memorial students and future leaders? Would you write that letter? The Fry Family Foundation went from funding five entrance scholarships at Memorial University in 1996 to giving more than $5 million to NL causes, with the biggest portion going to the education of more than 1,000 students. Read about Darryl and Marlene Fry in Givers of the World.
Two-time recipient of the FFF Graduate Leadership Award earns prestigious position[June 2022]
Memorial University Engineering graduate Dr. Kshama Roy (M.Eng.’12, PhD’17) is the only student to have been awarded the prestigious Chancellor's Graduate Award and Fry Family Foundation Graduate Leadership Award in 2012 and 2017. Read how this engineering alumnus has gone on to earn a prestigious position at a world-renowned organization in Beyond his wildest dreams.
Inaugural recipient of the FFF Dean's Leadership Award in Engineering is heading to law school [June 2022]
Erin Maher is a MUN Class of 2022 graduate of the Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering program and the inaugural recipient of the FFF Dean’s Leadership Award in Engineering. An active member of the local and national engineering student community throughout her studies, she has held roles such as the Vice President Academic on MUN Engineering Student Society and the Atlantic Representative on the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students Advocacy Working Group. Erin was also co-chair of the Canadian Engineering Leadership Conference, held in St. John's. She hopes to utilize the advocacy and leadership skills developed throughout her first degree and plans to pursue a legal education in the fall. Read more about Erin in Next Chapter.
Together-by-Design alumnus among the first graduates of Master of Applied Ocean Mapping at Marine Institute [May, 2022]
Congratulations to Mona Earle on graduating with her Master of Applied Ocean Technology (Ocean Mapping) and for being among the first graduates of the new master’s program offered by the Marine Institute’s School of Ocean Technology. Mona is also an alumnus of Together by Design (TBD), a not-for-profit co-founded by Darlene Spracklin-Reid and John Oates. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, FFF supported rebuilding efforts by NL-based TBD for several years. This partnership involved engineering students and skilled trade apprentices traveling to participate in rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. Read more about Mona in Ocean of Opportunities.
FFF CNA Business Leadership Award recipient working to make the workforce more inclusive [May 2022]
Linda Brown is a 2019-20 FFF Business Leadership Achievement Award recipient at College of the North Atlantic. Linda is a graduate of the Business Administration, Human Resource Management program through Distributed Learning. Read about how Linda feels that her work "supports both employers and jobseekers in enhancing inclusion and diversity in the workforce for people with disabilities" in CNA Grad creates inclusive opportunities.
FFF expands CNA pilot program within not-for-profit sector [April 2022]
After a successful pilot of the Fry Family Foundation's support of CNA’s Community Leadership Development (CLD) program, support is expanding to include Community Recreation Leadership (CRL) program students. This year, 50 students from both programs will receive a $1,000 stipend for their hard work and dedication to the not-for-profit sector. The Foundation sees this as a great opportunity to empower students to affect change and positively influence communities. Our intent is to commit to a four-year program which will award 50 stipends annually. Read more in Pilot Project Expands within not-for-profit sector.
FFF Ralph Vincent Memorial Business Scholarship recipient balances curling and business [April 2022]
Nathan Young is the recipient of the 2021-22 FFF Ralph Vincent Memorial Business Scholarship and is currently a second-year student in the Faculty of Business at Memorial University, pursuing a joint degree of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts (Economics). Nathan is also an avid curler, having skipped Team NL at the 2022 Tim Horton’s Brier and having led Team Canada as Skip at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland, where he captured a Gold Medal in the mixed doubles competition. Nathan offered some personal secrets to finding balance and achieving success in The business of balance.
FFF participates in groundbreaking of 'Brad's Place' at The Haven [April 2022]
The Haven held a groundbreaking ceremony for two additional homes on April 7, 2022. ‘Brad's Place’ is dedicated to Jones’ vision and will be house aging residents with Alzheimer's or dementia. Co-founders Darryl and Marlene Fry, as well as Trustees Gerry and Judy Repple were able to participate in the ground breaking ceremony. The Haven is also partnering with Florida State University medical students and doctors to run a dementia care program, which will allow residents to age in place..Watch the Fox13 News clip about the expansion in "I know she's safe": Sarasota's The Haven expands, increases residential services.
Recipient of the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for Women develops software for Parkinson's testing and treatment [March 2022]
PragmaClin Research was recently awarded the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for Women and Non-binary Leadership and the top prize in the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship's Mel Woodward Cup Competition. Co-founders Bronwyn Bridges and Gord Genge have developed and designed a remote patient monitoring system for Parkinson’s disease. They hope to eventually expand and create similar software for other neurological disorders. Watch a video explaining how this Startup could help Parkinson's patients in Winning N.L. startup develops software for {Parkinson's testing and treatment.
FFF grants inaugural MUN MCE awards to increase participation of women/non-binary students [March 2022]
PragmaClin Research, co-founded by pharmacy PhD student Bronwyn Bridges, was awarded the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for Women and Non-binary Leadership. PragmaClim also won the top prize in the Mel Woodward Cup Competition for a software that provides motor and non-motor assessments for people with Parkinson’s disease. Entrepreneur and Parkinson’s patient Gord Genge is the company’s co-founder. Watch a video about PragmaClin. Cannaby received the FFF Entrepreneurship Award for an Early-stage Idea. Cannaby was founded by master of science student Laura Mateo and partner Saioa Arrizabalaga, and aims to educate users on safe cannabis consumption through a customizable dosage calculator. Forty-three teams applied to the competition this year, the highest number of applicants to date! Read more in Startup Support.
A warm welcome to our new Fry Family Foundation Trustees [March 2022]
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of two new Trustees to our Fry Family Foundation Board – Diana and Jim Cronin. These appointments come at a significant time as the Foundation celebrates 25 years of providing support to our community and education partners. We're thankful to all our Trustees and Friends who generously volunteer their time to help us build stronger communities. Read more about Jim & Diana Cronin.
FFF funds MCE Solvers Program for NL Student Entrepreneurs [March 2022]
The Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE) is piloting a new program called Solvers to connect industry professionals with entrepreneurial students to find technological solutions to real-world business problems. The project to help develop NL's next high-growth startup is supported by a donation from the Fry Family Foundation. Read more in The Next Verafin?
FFF funds Leadership Program for NL Women and Immigrant Entrepreneurs [January 2022]
Commencing in 2021, the Fry Family Foundation made a 5-year commitment to MUN Genesis to support the development and delivery of a Leadership Program for NL Women and Immigrant Entrepreneurs that will result in improved outcomes and reduced barriers. As recently as 2015, exactly none of the ventures at St. John’s-based Genesis startup hub were led by women. Today, nearly a third of them are..Read more in Inside Genesis' Diversity Push - The St. John's startup hub has seen a sharp uptick in the number of women entrepreneurs it serves.
FFF funds MUN MCE awards to increase participation of women/non-binary students [December 2021]
The Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE) is aiming to increase participation for women and non-binary students with two new awards at its annual startup competition. The awards are funded by FFF to help support the MCE in its efforts to engage more women and non-binary students, The awards support the Foundation's focus on leadership development in NL. Paul Burt, FFF President stated, "We strive to encourage students to become tomorrow’s great leaders, and entrepreneurship is one avenue through which they can achieve this.” Read more in Unlocking Entrepreneurship - MCE steps up recruitment of women and non-binary students.
Marine Institute partners with Royal Canadian Navy to provide Leadership Training [November 2021]
On November 8, 2021 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between MUN's Marine Institute and the Royal Canadian Navy declaring that Primary Reserve Force naval personnel will be able to fulfill a portion of their Leadership training through a university ‘Certificate of Leadership’ credential recognized across civilian, commercial, and governmental sectors. This certificate program was developed by MI through the FFF Student Leadership Initiative Fund, a multiyear commitment established in 2018. Read more in Memorial University partners with Royal Canadian Navy to provide reservist training. Watch a news clip on this announcement from NTV News.
FFF supports the New Western NL Salvation Army emergency disaster services mobile unit [October 2021]
The Fry Family Foundation is proud to support the Salvation Army's latest emergency disaster services mobile unit which will provide more than just a hot meal to those in need on the west coast. Read more in More than a food truck: New Western Newfoundland Salvation Army emergency disaster services mobile unit hits the road.
FFF MUN Leadership Award Winner secures $21 Million investment for company [October 2021]
Adam Keating was awarded the 2017 MUN Chancellor's/Fry Family Foundation Undergraduate Leadership Award. Read about Adam and his partner Jeremy Andrews' new funding for their CoLab Software company in St. John's startup set to double in size thanks to $21M investment. The multimillion-dollar infusion is through Series A financing, led by New York-based venture capitalist firm Insight Partners.
CNA celebrates 15 years of partnership with Fry Family Foundation [September 2021]
Since the partnership began in 2006, the Fry Family Foundation has contributed nearly $1 million in funding for scholarships and awards to College of the North Atlantic, which has been used to assist over 400 students. Watch the video and read more in CNA,Fry Family Foundation celebrate 15-year partnership.
MUN celebrates 25 years of student support by the Fry Family Foundation [September 2021]
The Fry Family Foundation went from funding five entrance scholarships at Memorial University in 1996 to giving more than $5 million to NL causes, with the biggest portion going to the education of more than 1,000 students. Read about Darryl and Marlene Fry in Givers of the World: Celebrating 25 years of student support by the Fry Family Foundation.
FFF MI VP Excellence in Leadership Award recipient "Sees a wave of opportunity at home" [July 2021]
Kathleen Fillier is the recipient of the prestigious 2020-21 Marine Institute Vice President's Fry Family Foundation Excellence in Leadership Award. Kathleen is completing her 3-year Diploma in Marine Environmental Technology. In September she will begin the Bachelor of Technology online. Read about how Kathleen Sees a wave of opportunity at home in NL.
FFF MI Leadership Award Recipient is "Sailing to a career in marine engineering" [July 2021]
Sophia McCloy is a recipient of the 2020-21 Marine Institute Fry Family Foundation Leadership Award. Sophia is completing her 4-year Diploma of Technology on Marine Engineering. In September she will begin the Bachelor of Maritime Studies in Safety Mangeament at MI. Read about Sophia's interesting journey in Sailing to a career in marine engineering.
FFF Supports Service Integrated Learning with CNA Community Leadership Development Program [June 2021]
A virtual Appreciation Event for the Foundation’s commitment to College of the North Atlantic students enrolled in the Community Leadership Development (CLD) program was held June 30. This event brought together representation from CNA; the Fry Family Foundation; and, the more than 20 not-for-profit organizations involved in the program. Learn more about CNA, Fry Family Foundation partnership paves way for students.
FFF Supports Seniors aging in place at The Haven [June 2021]
We are excited to partner once again with The Haven on their latest initiative in Florida. Brad’s Place, will allow senior residents to age in place. Learn more about this exciting project in The Haven to expand Residential Program for adults with disabilities in Sarasota, 150+ on the waitlist.