2019-2020 Innovation and Impact Report
COVID-19 Student Relief
“I didn’t know how I would manage to pay for living expenses, classes or books or even if I could be successful in such a rigorous program. [Funds from the Campaign for Student Relief and Recovery] will go directly towards paying for my application to the Board of Registered Nursing. I had been holding off on applying because I just didn’t have the resources, but today I received this award, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.”
As statewide stay-at-home orders were put into place in mid-March due to COVID-19, colleges and students shifted to virtual learning, while entire industries were shut down across California. We saw our students struggling to navigate new and pressing challenges as a result of the pandemic, and the longstanding inequities they already faced were exacerbated. Yet, they continued to show resilience and commitment to achieving their educational goals.
Photo: Santa Monica College
In partnership with the Chancellor’s Office, the Foundation quickly launched the “Relief and Recovery Response Through the California Community Colleges: Support for Students, Families, and Communities Impacted by COVID-19” to provide students with immediate, emergency aid that would help them overcome the barriers standing in the way of their success. With contributions from generous donors, funders, and corporate partners, the Foundation’s Campaign for Student Relief and Recovery delivered almost $1 million in crucial emergency support, focusing efforts on students working toward certificates or degrees in health care, an essential component of the workforce needed to respond to the pandemic.
community college nursing students connected to life-changing dollars thanks to:
from Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
from individuals and corporate partners
Chromebooks
mobile hotspots delivered through CollegeBuys
“Not knowing how I am going to pay for housing, or if I will have enough money for food, takes a huge toll on me as a mother. I am beyond grateful for donors who take the time to acknowledge that there are many people out there who need a little help to complete their dream. Thank you for all that you do!”
San Joaquin Delta College
“Words cannot describe how grateful I am for this grant. As of right now this money would mean that I get to help my family pay the bills so we can stay afloat. Due to the pandemic all my family members, including myself have lost our jobs and it goes without saying that times have been extremely tough for us. Again, thank you so very much! This really means a lot to me.”
The Foundation’s fundraising and programmatic efforts continue to be aligned with a relief and recovery response to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the Vision for Success and social justice and equity at the core. This fall, a second distribution of emergency aid will provide support for up to 800 additional respiratory therapy and nursing students.
Steven, a nursing student at El Camino College who received emergency assistance through the Campaign for Relief and Recovery, shares, “ … this will make a world of difference for me at a time when I am preparing to make a difference in the world.
Learn more about the Foundation’s comprehensive response efforts related to COVID-19 >