Where the first
rung started
Gia Lucchetta has sold homes in Guelph since 1988. In 2020 she started paying for one local student’s scholarship every year with her own money. For seven years, Gia has funded one First Rung Scholarship every year at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute: $175,000 so far.
She meets every one of them. One recipient, who got out of a life of violence and is now studying pre-medicine, told her: “I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you.”
You don’t need a big organization to change a student’s life. You need one person who decides to. So we’re putting together a simple way for one person, or a few friends, to start a First Rung Scholarship in their own town, whether that’s Kamloops, St. John’s, or right on your street.
Why “the first rung”
The first rung is the hardest step. It’s the one between
“I can’t” and “I’m on my way.” Once a student is on it, they do the climbing themselves, and they can choose to take advantage of our alumni and mentor networks.