“I feel Carleton has a wonderful, collaborative community that you really feel connected to. Whether it be through volunteering or providing a donation, I think giving back in any way that you can is a part of the Carleton DNA and a part of our values,” says Jennifer Brenning.  

As the recently retired Associate Vice President of Recreation and Athletics at Carleton University, Jennifer’s lifelong dedication to university sport—both as a student-athlete and employee—led her to give back through philanthropy. Jennifer reflected on her own experience in the World University Games that was nothing short of lifechanging, and wanted to ensure that students who were selected as part of Team Canada were not prevented from participating due to financial barriers.  

This was the impetus that inspired Jennifer to become a supporter of the High Performance Athletes’ Fund—a fund that provides financial assistance to Carleton student-athletes who have qualified or been selected to compete for Canada at the international level, including the Olympics, Pan-Am Games and World University Games. As she says, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for student-athletes to walk into an opening ceremony with their teammates waving the Canadian flag, and I wanted to give back and support those that have worked hard to qualify or be selected but cannot necessarily afford to compete at that level.”  

For Jennifer, being involved in university sports as a student kept her on the right path, and throughout her nearly two-decade career at Carleton, she witnessed how it positively impacted students. She saw firsthand the rigorous schedule student-athletes maintain, dedicating around 60 hours a week to training, practice, competitions and academics. With these commitments often leaving minimal time for paid work, the High Performance Athletes’ Fund helps alleviate financial pressures they may face.  

To extend the impacts of her giving, Jennifer made the decision to make a gift in her will to ensure future generations of student-athletes have access to the same opportunities that she experienced—a conviction that is close to her heart. While her personal involvement in athletics made her gravitate towards making her first donation to Carleton in 2008, it is her grandmother who deeply influenced this bequest. 

“I thought of my own grandmother, who was also a high performance athlete, and how much she would have loved to participate in the Olympics herself but couldn’t,” says Jennifer. Although she was selected to compete as a high jumper, the Second World War prevented her from attending. This was a meaningful way to honour her grandmother’s memory by helping student-athletes access opportunities that she was not able to well into the future. 

While Jennifer is now a retiree, she maintains her connection to Carleton by attending events and games with fellow community members—reinforcing her belief in the ‘Raven for life’ creed. As she says, “I think there is a forever connection because of how close-knit Carleton’s community is, and I plan to be a part of it throughout my retirement.” 

Behind the Donor Curtain: 

Do you have a favourite quote or personal motto?

I think things are always meant for a reason – whether it’s tough or great – your path will find you if you trust your instincts.

If you could go back in time, what profession other than your own would you like to try?

I would work with trees because my passion has always been the environment and outdoors. I applied to two other universities for forestry, but I couldn’t afford to go at the time, so I ended up studying kinesiology because my other love was sports and recreation.

What is your favourite spot on Carleton’s campus?

Sitting along the river with the trees. It’s such a beautiful spot.

What inspires you to give back to the Carleton community?

Athletics are such an important part of the university experience, and it costs a lot of money to participate. I’ve always believed that sports and education go together. The High Performance Student Athletes’ Fund allows students to participate on the world stage and gives student-athletes memories they’ll never forget, which is why it’s what I choose to give back to.