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New Fund Gives Students Assistance

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November 21, 2017
The Student Impact Fund can support student organizations who lead off-campus projects that address an identified community need.
The Student Impact Fund can support student organizations who lead off-campus projects that address an identified community need.

During this year’s annual 24-hour campaign of giving, participants will have more options to which to direct their support, including a new fund that assists with the emerging and unique needs of student groups as the campus grows.

The Student Impact Fund (SIF) — established by the this year — is a strategy for raising and providing funds for flexible, responsive and sustainable efforts to help ϰٿ students and student groups.

Using the new fund, UFC can grant a Community Service Organization Award to a ϰٿ student organization whose members plan, lead and execute an exemplary off-campus project that addresses an identified community need. UFC also plans to use the SIF to provide “move-in” bags filled with bed sheets, towels, toiletries and other critical items for foster youth in the Dz.

The University Friends Circle found a new way to assist the unique needs of student groups as the campus grows.
The University Friends Circle found a new way to assist the unique needs of student groups as the campus grows.

“We wanted to complement our traditional scholarship efforts with a new initiative to meet unique and evolving needs of students and student groups as the university grows,” UFC President Gaye Riggs said. “We have established a process for accepting and evaluating requests and are excited that our members want to support the university and students in this way.”

The UFC was formed in 2008 to bring faculty and staff members, campus leaders and community supporters together to enhance strong relationships between ϰٿ and communities of the Central Valley through programs that promote social and intellectual interaction and fundraising initiatives that support ϰٿ students. University Friends Circle is open to anyone who supports the mission and activities of the organization.

UFC members, including every board member, have already given more than $5,000 to the SIF since it was approved by the UFC board in September.

The SIF will complement the UFC Scholarship Endowment Fund. In 2017, the UFC gave four scholarships to students involved in community service. Last year’s Giving Tuesday fundraising efforts pushed the UFC scholarship endowment near the $400,000 mark.

To donate to the UFC Student Impact Fund, UFC Scholarship Endowment Fund or other areas, visit beginning at midnight EST Tuesday, Nov. 28.

We wanted to complement our traditional scholarship efforts with a new initiative to meet unique and evolving needs of students and student groups as the university grows.

Gaye Riggs

Brenda Ortiz

Senior Public Information Representitive

Office: (209) 228-4203

Mobile: (209) 628-8263

bortiz@ucmerced.edu