A rainy, chilly day was made brighter for hundreds of York University community members during the Soup’s On at Bergeron community event held on March 31 at the Keele campus. Some 300 bowls of soup, an additional 300 cookies and countess taco chips were dished out by a small but mighty group of intrepid volunteers to a hungry crowd of students, faculty and staff.
The event was sponsored by the York University Fellowship FUNd with assistance from Aramark Foods. Community members had an opportunity to choose from two delicious kinds of soup – a savory ginger carrot vegetarian soup or a hearty turkey noodle concoction. Both were deemed delicious by faculty, staff and students who gathered in the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence.
Entertaining the crowds was the Steve Koven Trio. An energetic improvisational jazz group, the Steve Koven Trio is a Toronto-based musical group. Pianist Steve Koven was joined by long time members, Anthony Michelli on drums and Rob Clutton on bass. Koven and Michelli are also contract faculty in the Department of Music in the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design. Formed in 1993, the trio has performed world-wide, and has established themselves as one of Canada’s cultural ambassadors.
The York University Fellowship FUNd was made possible through a donation from Harriet Lewis, a long-serving University Secretary and General Counsel, who retired in 2014. The purpose of the FUNd is to provide members of the campus community a variety of entertaining and interesting events throughout the year. The intent of these events is to give enjoyment to community members, nurture collective pride in York University, and to foster a spirit of FUN. Soup’s On at Bergeron was the second event hosted by the York University Fellowship FUNd. The inaugural event, Pan.de.mo.ni.um in the Stadium took place last fall in the new York Lions Stadium
The fund is overseen by the FUNd Committee which is a standing committee for the duration of funding administered by the Office of the Vice-President, Advancement. Membership is comprised of students, staff, faculty, retirees and alumni.
If you are interested in learning more about the FUNd or would like to share a good idea for a fun event, contact Mandi Hickman, manager of community relations, Advancement, at ext. 77529 or by email to ahickman@yorku.ca. The FUNd Committee is currently recruiting committee members.