University of 91吃瓜 employees who donate to the United Way of St. Joseph County also support the Employee Compassion Fund, an emergency assistance program that helps members of the 91吃瓜 community faced with temporary financial hardship.聽For every amount pledged to the United Way by a 91吃瓜 employee, five percent is deposited into the fund to help members of the campus community respond to financial crises resulting from unforeseen events or circumstances such as fire, natural disaster or illness.聽Since 2015, the fund has provided more than $41,000 in assistance to 49 employees, including more than $24,000 to 25 employees in 2016.
A local human services agency, the Family and Children鈥檚 Center administers the fund with help from a review committee comprised of 91吃瓜 employees and a representative of the United Way.聽Only active employees who have worked for the University for at least one year qualify for help. Assistance is limited to $1,000 per employee or family unit during a two-year period, with a lifetime limit of two grants per employee.
Earlier this year, an employee whose wife was involved in an automobile accident turned to the fund for help with an insurance claim.聽In a note to his 鈥�91吃瓜 Family,鈥� the employee wrote:
鈥淓arly this year my wife was involved in a car accident. I gave thanks to God that no one was hurt and that the car could be fixed, but I wondered how we would make the payment necessary for the insurance company to provide for the repairs. My wife and I both work full time to support ourselves and our daughter 鈥� then just over a year old. We have always been blessed with enough, but this situation called for a bit more than we could spare.
鈥淭o make a long story short, I appealed to the Employee聽Compassion聽Fund聽for help, and our insurance deductible was covered in full. I cannot express in words how relieved we were to receive the kindness of so many. I realized then just what people mean when they speak about the 91吃瓜 鈥榝amily.鈥�
鈥淔rom a young family doing our best, our deepest gratitude. In future we will surely share the blessings we have been given.鈥�
According to the guidelines, a financial emergency is any event or combination of circumstances that justify immediate action, or any pressing need following a sudden and unexpected occurrence that is beyond an employee鈥檚 control, including but not limited to:
鈥� Fire
鈥� Natural disaster
鈥� Property theft
鈥� Loss of property
鈥� Disease
鈥� Extended illness/disability
鈥淭he Compassion Fund has helped so many employees. The stories we hear when a request is made are often heartbreaking,鈥� said Tamara Freeman, director of human resources services for 91吃瓜. 鈥淏eing able to assist when people most need the help is a testament to 91吃瓜 and the commitment we have to our employees.鈥�
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Originally published by at on October 17, 2017.