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The Emory University Emergency Hardship Fund has been monitoring Emory University faculty and staff since 2010. This fund is currently facing a critical shortage and support is being sought from the University community.
The fund was established to support employees who are going through difficult times or dealing with sudden life-changing events. These events can range from natural disasters (such as fires or tornadoes) to burst water pipes, loss of income, death in the family, and medical expenses. What hasn’t changed is the difference that hardship funds make in the lives of employees and their families.
caring for employees
The Emory University Emergency Hardship Fund is funded primarily by staff funds and is donated entirely to recipient faculty and staff. Additional funding comes from her one-time donations from the broader Emory community.
To qualify, employees must be full-time faculty members who have worked at least 20 hours for at least one year. Additionally, the employee must not have violated any of Emory’s standards of conduct policies within the past 12 months.
The process of applying for assistance is completely confidential. After completing the application form on the Emory Work-Life website, applicants will work with her Mary Ellen Eady, the fund’s coordinator, to gather all necessary documentation and supporting evidence of financial need.
“My job is to help people apply,” Eadie says. “It’s about helping people verify their information and making sure they receive as much information as possible with the right documentation.”
Eady anonymously presents each applicant’s case to a small committee of Emory Staff Council and Human Resources representatives. Any eligible Emory University staff or faculty member may apply, but not all applicants will be approved to receive funding. Those who do can be awarded up to $2,500.
Awards classified as Tier 1 address catastrophic events such as death in the family or loss due to a natural disaster. Tier 2 benefits apply for temporary emergencies, such as unexpected car repairs or assistance with housing issues.
Many individuals who received funds will send statements to Eady expressing their tremendous gratitude. “You have no idea what a relief this is,” one recipient said. “The last few months, years in fact, have been so stressful. This has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”
Build a sustainable fund
From 2020 to 2023, the foundation awarded more money ($224,360) than it raised ($132,959). As a result, we realized that the Fund was in critical need of support to continue supporting our employees.
“This is the first year [the fund has] We’re really in trouble, and I think that has a lot to do with the impact of the new coronavirus,” Eadie says. Staff turnover, retirement, and a general lack of awareness among staff have been cited as reasons for the decline in donations.
Dawn Frances Chewning, former president of the Emory Staff Council, agreed. “From my observations, there were so many sales that people who were giving regularly have since left Emory… [the money is] I just lost,” she says.
She added that many new employees don’t necessarily know about the fund and may not know how to donate. “That’s a significant number,” she says.
Emory’s top leadership recently stepped in to help. In collaboration with the Staff Council, the Office of President Gregory L. Fenves and the office of Executive Vice President for Business Administration Chris Augustini, we contributed a $25,000 match to the fund. Both offices hope to continue this work and encourage others to donate.
Staff Council President Shervon Lewis thanked the leadership for its contributions. She says larger gifts help address the foundation’s immediate needs and give more staff the opportunity to benefit, but any size of gift makes a difference.
How to donate to the fund
Frances Chewning was serving on the University Senate when then-Staff Council President Matt Engelhart first proposed the concept of a hardship fund. She did not hesitate to give, especially after facing her own personal loss.
“I wanted to be a part of it because everyone needs help. And I thought, who better to help than Emory’s family? That’s why I love Emory. “I’ve always thought that way,” says Francis Cheuning. She has continued to contribute to the fund through her payroll deductions since its creation.
Staff, faculty, and community members have several options to support the Emory Needy Fund. Individuals or organizations can make a one-time donation to the Fund through her website. Emory staff and faculty can also elect to have recurring payroll deductions of any amount through PeopleSoft Self-Service.
The fund will also be featured at the upcoming Emory Day of Giving (March 27-28). If you would like to support the Fund and have your early gift counted on the day of your donation, please use this special donation link. By March 26th.
Nina Acosta, current staff council member and chair of the Hardship Fund, sums up the need for the fund: [the fund is] I’ll go help. That way, you might be able to help the person sitting in the cubicle next to you. ”
Learn more about the Emory University Hardship Fund and get your questions answered by emailing the Emory Staff Council..
All Emory University employees can contribute to the Hardship Fund through regular payroll deductions.:
- Log on to PeopleSoft Self-Service.
- Click on the “Employee Donations” box.
- Select Emory Employee Donations.
- Select “Employee Hardship Fund” in the “Directions” scroll down menu.
- Follow the instructions to complete the process.
Donations are tax deductible.
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