On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf issued an unprecedented Executive Order requiring all “non-life sustaining businesses” in Pennsylvania to close in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases. In compliance with the Governor’s order, Saint Francis University was forced to close its physical campus and rapidly shift all University operations to the digital realm. For the remainder of the spring semester, the University community remotely
conducted classes and adjusted to its new norm. While technology kept the semester intact, the disruption resulted in many unanticipated challenges. Many students and their families suddenly found themselves suffering severe financial burdens from the pandemic’s economic fallout. Area residents served by the Dorothy Day Outreach Center, another key SFU constituency, endured similar circumstances.
Together We Gave A Generous Spirit As the stories of those in need arose, members of the University swiftly began a fundraising effort to help fill financial gaps and established an emergency support fund. As a call for help was issued, the Saint Francis University Alumni Association seeded the effort by committing $5,000 in matching funds while the University leveraged its Global Giving Tuesday campaign, which was designated as a day of global action in response to the global pandemic, to bring in donations for the fund. On Global Giving Tuesday alone (May 5, 2020), 208 alumni, parents, and friends contributed $49,555 to the ongoing Emergency Support Fund campaign’s total. To date the generous response from the SFU community has exceeded $65,000.
The Emergency Support Fund of 2020 Total Raised: (through Dec. 4, 2020)
$65,381 Total Donors: 340 HOW THE FUND HELPS: • Covered technology costs to transition to online learning from home: monthly internet fees, and materials such as paper and ink. • Provided funds for grocery needs for students who experience food insecurity at home. • Covered transportation costs for last-minute departures from campus. • Kept the Dorothy Day Outreach Center pantry stocked.
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