Walter and Maria Schroeder
Hundreds of young people and their families from core Winnipeg neighbourhoods know the names Walter and Maria Schroeder as proof of the old phrase: the sky is the limit.
As beneficiaries of everything from the building blocks of a good school day – food security, modern equipment and student supports – to full-ride scholarships into post-secondary education programs at RRC Polytech their lives have been transformed by Walter and Maria’s visionary philanthropy.
As proud Winnipeggers and Manitobans, Walter and Maria believe in the power of post-secondary education and recognize how important it is to train and retain the talent our province needs to advance key industries such as creative arts.
This is why we are so excited to work with Walter and Maria, and their foundation to amplify the impact of their generosity – right here in their home province – for generations of Manitobans to come.
Together, we will continue redefining what is possible for creatives in Winnipeg and Manitoba, under a name that is synonymous with educational opportunity for all.
Their latest gift funding the creation of our prairie-based media arts hub is the latest chapter in a long history of giving back and making a difference in Manitoba and beyond.
Initiated by RRC Polytech, the Schroeder’s received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2023 Manitoba Philanthropy Awards for their many years of charitable initiatives. Their support in creating the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts continues that legacy and gives even more Manitobans the chance to pursue careers in creative fields.
By supporting revolutionary academic programming in entertainment arts at the College, they are helping learners discover and successfully complete their journey from post-secondary education to meaningful employment.
As the namesake and benefactor of the Schroeder Institute, Walter and Maria are catalysts for unprecedented progress in Winnipeg’s downtown communities. And they are the driving force of their Foundation’s commitment to “. . . enhancing educational opportunities for vulnerable youth,” a commitment their gift to the College extends to adult learners – domestic, Indigenous, and international – who proudly call Winnipeg home and who choose to study at the Schroeder Institute.
Learn more about the Schroeder’s transformational, $15-million gift to RRC Polytech ›
RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.