May 1, 2020
To: Faculty, Staff, and Administrators
From: Tamara Josserand, Vice President for Advancement, on behalf of the President’s Cabinet
Subject: Launch of Employee Emergency Fund
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, including those who work at the University of Redlands. In recognition of the importance of providing direct assistance to our employees during this time, President Ralph W. Kuncl has initiated the Employee Emergency Fund to provide financial support for employees whose households face urgent, unanticipated needs.
Thanks to a generous donation of $25,000 from President Kuncl, 95% participation from the President’s Cabinet, and generous support from members of our Board of Trustees, we have a total of $42,700 in gifts and pledges and are ready to accept applications for funding from employees starting immediately.
These one-time emergency grants do not need to be paid back. Applications will be reviewed by a four-person committee, composed of a representative from the faculty, Finance, Human Resources, and University of Redlands Staff and Administrators Assembly (URSAA). All requests will remain confidential. Awards relating to the current COVID-19 pandemic (and other national states of emergency) are exempt from taxes, while other grants are taxable.
Because we realize employees could have pressing needs at this time, the committee will meet to review the first round of applications for Employee Emergency Fund grants during the week of May 4. Initial applicants will receive a response within three days after review. From that point forward, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
To submit an application, please complete a short questionnaire, which is also available from the Employee Emergency Fund web page.
Those who would like to make a gift to the new fund can do so by:
Thank you to those who choose to donate.
One of the many things that makes this community special is our support for each other, and I am pleased that the new Employee Emergency Fund will be able to provide some assistance to employees facing unexpected financial challenges.