The college has established a Hardship Fund to help support Vassar employees facing economic distress due to work reduction. The fund will be created through campus community contributions.
Letter from the Hardship Fund group
May 26, 2009
Dear members of the Vassar community,
As you will have seen in a recent email from President Hill, a group of students and administrators are working together to establish a Hardship Fund to help members of our community who are facing economic hardship as a result of a reduction in work. The fund will be available for the remainder of 2009 to employees whose 2008 Vassar gross income falls below $40,000, who have lost income, and who have needs they cannot meet.
We know that there are many members of the community who are searching for ways to offer support to those of us who face the greatest hardship from steps that the college must take to adjust to the financial crisis. We invite you to make a contribution to this fund. We hope to raise between $90,000-$100,000.
To be of assistance to employees who are facing hardship this summer, we ask that donations or pledges be made by June 15th (payroll deductions may extend through December, 2009). The fund will be administered by a group consisting of the following members of the Vassar community: Royce Drake ’10; Professor Rebecca Edwards; Sam Speers, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life; Tanhena Pacheco Dunn, Assistant Director of Human Resources, and Maureen Lashlee at Community Action Partnership. Employees will be able to make an application for funds through a written form and/or through an interview. All applications will be kept confidential.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund, please use the links at the top of this page either to make an online credit card contribution, or download the print form to contribute by check, credit card, or payroll deduction. There are also print forms for contributions by check and payroll deduction in the Campus Activities office.
If you have any questions please contact me at 437-7972 or at the email address below.
Rachel Kitzinger
Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs
Professor of Classics
hardshipfund@vassar.edu
Contribute
- Deadline for contributions:
31 July 2009 - To contribute by credit card online, go to the secure online form.
- To contribute by check or credit card, download the print form (PDF).