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The Lycoming College community and world have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Lycoming College made the decision to continue with its originally planned Day of Giving on April 22, 2020, in order to prioritize giving opportunities that support the most vulnerable in its community.
Even during these uncertain times, the Lycoming community rose to the challenge. Through the collective generosity of alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff, Lycoming's second Day of Giving was a success. In a mere 24 hours, 561 donors raised $315,372 to support its students.
Unlike last year's event filled with festivities for students throughout the day in the Academic Center, the campus was quiet since students have returned home to complete the remainder of the semester and faculty and staff continue to work remotely. The energy for the day could still be felt as students and supporters joined together through social media.
Donors were encouraged to focus their efforts around four fund priorities in support of those who are facing significant hardships, particularly during this global pandemic.
The Student Retention Fund provides critical resources to students performing well academically who are at risk of not completing their degree because of unforeseen financial hardships. Every gift made to this fund on April 22 was met with a 50 percent matching gift.
Students have been faced with sudden challenges brought on by this pandemic, including unstable living situations, food insecurities, moving and travel expenses, loss of paid internships and employment, and new technology expenses accrued in order to thrive in an online educational setting. The Student Lifeline Fund supports students dealing with these adversities that extend beyond the ability to pay for tuition.
Increasing the College's capacity to support the health and wellness of its students during this crisis was also a priority. "This is a time when we need to augment and enhance the ways in which we care for our community," said Chip Edmonds '98, executive vice president of Lycoming College. "In an effort to better serve our students during times of distress, Lycoming has established a Mental Health & Wellness Fund to deepen our commitment to supporting the needs of our students, further enabling them to thrive both in and out of the classroom."
Gifts designated to the Lycoming Fund play an important role in shaping the lives of students each and every year. The fund provides immediate support for academics, scholarships, research, global experiences, music programs, athletics, internships, and more — enabling students to think deeply and act boldly.
"As has always been true of the Lycoming community, we will navigate this challenging time by putting the needs, objectives, and life goals of our students first," said Edmonds. "We care deeply about this community of learners, and we are grateful for the outpouring of support and commitment to Lycoming students, faculty, and staff during this challenging time. Thank you for helping us to advance our mission."
