Greater Relief
"Every week, we are seeing more and more applications from ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs in need of emergency support. Each ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË applicant hopes to begin the fall semester on the right foot, and it's our job to keep them focused on their academic success." – Amanda Sbricia
The ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË Community College Foundation has received a second grant in as many months to help ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs facing financial emergencies because of COVID-19.
In its latest round of grants, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts awarded $40,000 to ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË from its COVID-19 Relief Fund. In July, the Community Foundation awarded the ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË Foundation $35,000. All $75,000 went into the President's Student Emergency Fund, which is managed by the ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË Foundation.
"Every week, we are seeing more and more applications from ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs in need of emergency support," said Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË Foundation. "Each ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË applicant hopes to begin the fall semester on the right foot, and it's our job to keep them focused on their academic success."
Thanks to CFWM's first grant to ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË, 67 ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs received emergency funding with an average disbursement of $522. Already, in the past two weeks 15 additional ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs have received emergency aid.
"We anticipate disbursing the full $40,000 to ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs in need before the end of September," Sbriscia said.
Typically, ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs request help paying for basic needs, such as food, rent, utilities, childcare and transportation.
"Relief Fund dollars are making it possible for ¿ì²¥³ÉÈË ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs throughout our region to achieve their educational goals," Sbriscia said. "I'm so grateful to the Community Foundation for enabling us to respond to our ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËs with good news. This funding tells them, your community is here for you, and we're committed to your success."
