Looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a co-worker in crisis? For as little as $5 per month, you can support members of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community through the Faculty and Staff Emergency Fund.
Over the past year, the fund provided about $20,000 in grants to individuals experiencing temporary financial hardship. Since its inception in 1992, the fund has helped more than 1,000 academic professionals, faculty members and staff.
Examples include providing basic personal items or a safe place to stay for a staff member forced to leave an unsafe home situation without any belongings or resources; or securing groceries and rent for an employee who is critically ill but doesn’t have enough benefit time to cover an extended absence.
Current staff, academic professionals and faculty members who have held a permanent 50%-plus position with the university for the previous six months are eligible to apply for assistance if they are experiencing a temporary financial hardship due to an emergency situation.
Eligible employees may apply at any time. All contacts are confidential and assessments are free. Applications are screened by Faculty/Staff Assistance Services before being reviewed and approved by a volunteer committee.
All of the money donated goes directly to helping employees in need. Any gift, large or small, makes a difference. You can make your gift by payroll deduction, online credit card payment or personal check, and contributions are tax-deductible.