Pictured above: “There’s nothing more important than the health and wellness of our community, and the impact of your gift will help our students overcome these new challenges,” said USF system President Steven Currall in a video on the fund’s website.
Courtesy of USF
By James Bennett III
A new USF fundraiser aims to help students who are facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Students across the three USF campuses can receive a maximum of $1,000 from the USF United Support Fund to pay for “urgent needs like food, toiletries, rent money and other basic essentials.”
“While USF is providing remote instruction, counseling and other support services to these students, new financial realities are a source of significant stress and unease for many,” a post on fund’s website said.
It was started by USF system President Steve Currall and has raised nearly $90,000 over the course of four days.
For those wishing to donate, the suggested amount ranges from $10 to $100. The two largest donations — $20,000 each — came from USF trustee Les Muma and his wife, Pam, and the Ramil Perez Family Foundation, headed by USF trustee John Ramil his wife, Naida.
Students can apply by completing the online application and emailing it to the university’s office of Financial Aid at finaid@usf.edu with “USF United Support Fund” in the subject line.
Applicants are asked to submit a signed statement explaining how they will use the funding and “documentation supporting the amount request.”
“COVID-19 has disrupted all our lives, but our USF students, many of whom are far from home, have been especially impacted,”said a post on the fund’s website. “Students have lost their jobs and due to family financial challenges some face further reduced financial support.”
“There’s nothing more important than the health and wellness of our community, and the impact of your gift will help our students overcome these new challenges,” Currall said in a video on the fund’s website.
What sort of “documentation supporting the amount request” is needed??