16 | THELAKER foundation update An ESL grant has helped 70 students cover basic needs such as housing and transportation in the rst ve months of the 2022-23 academic year. e FLCC Foundation, which raises funds to support students and College programs, applied for the grant to replenish the Student Emergency Fund, which has supported students in nancial hardship for several years. ESL helps local not-for-pro t organizations advance areas of impact ESL has identi ed, for example, e orts that expand individual opportunity. “ e Foundation is honored to accept this donation from ESL to provide emergency assistance to FLCC students,” said Louis Noce, the College’s chief advancement o cer and executive director of the Foundation. “So many of our students face hardships that make it di cult to remain enrolled or focused on their studies. Being able to support our students ts perfectly with the mission of the FLCC Foundation.” ESL awarded the $100,000 grant in September 2022. A total of $55,257 had been distributed by the end of January to 70 students, with 30 grants for housing, 18 for transportation, 11 for books and supplies, and 10 for tuition. Students also received seven grants for utilities, seven for phone or internet costs, and ve for food. Students can receive funding in more than one category, for example, $500 for rent and $75 for internet. Paxton Creek of Canandaigua, a liberal arts major, was among the recipients. “I was struggling to make payments for my online texts. e Student Emergency Fund has helped me continue my studies here at FLCC and will be a reason why I’m graduating this spring,” he said. At FLCC, the Center for Student Well-Being administers the Student Emergency Fund. e Center promotes a holistic approach to student well-being by providing in-person and virtual health and counseling services and assistance with food and transportation. Emergency funds are available for students in good academic standing who nd themselves in need of immediate aid for expenses which would otherwise prevent them from remaining enrolled or completing a degree or certi cate. Funds are granted on a case-by-case basis and are not a substitute for federal and state nancial aid. Students must submit an application and brie y describe the unexpected circumstance that has led to hardship. e sta in the Center for Student Well-Being review the applications, and the Foundation makes nal funding decisions. Students who receive emergency funding are encouraged to complete an online webinar called “Financial Literacy: Smart Money Skills for College and Beyond.” e webinar takes about 25 minutes and explains how to build a budget, track spending, use credit wisely, avoid and eliminate debt, and plan for the future. In addition to the Student Emergency Fund, the FLCC Foundation also maintains the Mary Porcari Brady Nursing Student Support Fund. It assists nursing students facing unexpected expenses that could force them to delay studies or even leave the program. Students can apply for funds through a process administered by the Nursing Department and the Foundation. Other funds for students in crises are the Bridge Scholarship, Dr. Barb Etzel Emergency Loan Fund, and the Jane E. Bachar Emergency Grant, all of which have been in existence for several years. –Lenore Friend ESL provides $100,000 for student emergencies Visit the Foundation on the web: flcc.edu/foundation e FLCC Foundation website o ers information about the 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, scholarships, and the Alumni Association. It also has links to back issues of the Laker magazine and to the College’s Flickr site with thousands of photos of memorable moments for faculty, sta , students and graduates.
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