More than $1 million is on its way to the Central OkanaganB次元官网网址檚 Grade 12 grads.

Kelowna entrepreneurs Lance and Tammy Torgerson were behind the previously anonymous donation announced Thursday, June 17, that will see each local graduate given $500. Lance said his philanthropic action is intended to offer some relief to a difficult COVID-influenced final year of schooling and acknowledge what lies ahead for a younger generation about to be saddled with the accumulated debt in response to the pandemicB次元官网网址檚 economic impact as they get older.

B次元官网网址淭his is about helping a part of the population that could use some goodness, could use a helping hand,B次元官网网址� he said, adding there are no restrictions on what the young adults can use the funds on.

B次元官网网址淪ome parents will force their kids to spend it on school and others may get to do what they want with it. Hopefully, they all will give some thought into what goes into something like this and recognize, B次元官网网址楬ey, there are some people who are behind us.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The Torgersons initially wanted to remain anonymous so as not to place the attention on them instead of the student recipients. However, a personal letter sent to each gradB次元官网网址檚 parents this week from B次元官网网址楲ance and TammyB次元官网网址� made their identities easy to uncover on social media.

The two had a front-row seat to the impact of COVID on the final school year for 2020-21 grads, as their son is among those grads.

The couple recognized the challenges the pandemic imposed on gradsB次元官网网址� school experience B次元官网网址� diminished grad ceremonies, course limitations, no extra-curricular activities, no sports and being unable to see their friends.

Lance said the whole experience has left many students B次元官网网址渟hellshockedB次元官网网址� as they move forward with their lives and career opportunities.

B次元官网网址淭his is not about scholastics. This is about instilling something positive for kids that have faced a difficult year and will face challenges going forward,B次元官网网址� said Lance.

B次元官网网址淚f you look down the road, these kids are going to take it on the chin. Once they have gone through colleges or universities or start working, they are going to be faced with paying for this pandemic and are likely going to face some difficult times.B次元官网网址�

The TorgersonsB次元官网网址� generosity comes from the fruits of his financial success in the northern Alberta oil and gas industry along with industrial lodging.

Lance and Tammy both grew up in Alberta and made family vacation treks to the Okanagan, able to move here later in their lives 12 years ago.

His corporate interests include Vantage Living seniorsB次元官网网址� residences and Vantage Hemp, based out of Colorado, employing more than 1,200 people in his various businesses.

Lance said he and his wife have been talking for a year about giving back in some way.

When they came up with the idea of the $500 gift, they contacted a friend of theirs who is a Kelowna principal to get his feedback.

B次元官网网址淗e was kind of taken aback when we said how much we wanted to give,B次元官网网址� Lance acknowledged.

While it wasnB次元官网网址檛 their primary intent, Torgerson said if their donation sparks others who have the resources to give back to their communities to do so, B次元官网网址渢hen thatB次元官网网址檚 all fine.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hat we have done is a ripple in a big pond but if it causes more ripples, it could lead anywhere,B次元官网网址� he said.

READ MORE: