Page 18 - ECF_Thrive-Sept-2025

Once the milestone is met, annual grants will support the
food bank, with the fund growing under ECF’s stewardship
and further contributions from DU and the public.
“It was a very streamlined process,” Stratton says.
“Edmonton Community Foundation did a great job
of telling us everything we need to be aware of and
answering all of our concerns.”
Johannesson agrees. “We had no experience setting
up endowments as university students,” he says. “They
made it easy and it helped a lot.”
The Delta Upsilon Building Better Futures Fund
comes with no strings attached; the chapter is happy
for the food bank to use the funds as it sees fit. Still, the
benefits go both ways, with the initiative offering the
members a real-world exercise in project management,
financial planning and community engagement.
A lasting legacy
Creating a legacy that would endure even beyond
their time on campus also resonated deeply with the
members of DU.
“This is the 90th year of our chapter being at the
University of Alberta campus, so it’s a big year for us,”
Johannesson says.
“The (fraternity alumni) community is also very
supportive. We’ll do charity events and people will be
donating from all corners of the globe,” he adds. “It’s that
support that you get from people that you’ve never met
that gives you a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood.”
The alumni connection is also more than
sentimental. DU has a list of decades-old traditions that
have survived the test of time, in no small part because
of the sense of stewardship passed down over the years.
“It’s great when you talk to an alumnus and they
ask, ‘Do you still do this?’ and we can say, ‘Yeah, we
still do the beach volleyball tournament every summer
solstice,’” Johannesson says. “That’s the kind of tradition
we want for this fund.”
Stratton hopes the fund will also become a hands-
on project for new members. “I want as many guys as
possible to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I contributed to this.
I helped raise money,’” he says. “That’s my goal.”
Help Shape
Edmonton’s
Future.
Join ECF’s Grants Sub-Committees and help
decide which projects get funded in our city.
As a volunteer reviewer, you’ll evaluate
applications and champion initiatives that
strengthen Edmonton’s communities.
Your perspective matters — we welcome
volunteers from every background and
experience level.
Ready to make
a difference?
ecf.ca/get-involved
How to contribute
The Delta Upsilon Building Better
Futures Fund is live on the ECF website.
Donations of any size bring the chapter
closer to its $10,000 goal and help
secure a lasting source of support for
Edmonton’s Food Bank.
18 Together we thrive