A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
The Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association (WLUAA) recently made a leadership-level gift of $50,000 to support the Laurier COVID-19 Emergency Fund. The fund was established to provide aid to Laurier students who faced an unprecedented end to their academic term.
“Thousands of Laurier students have applied for support after learning that the university had established this emergency fund,” says WLUAA President Ryan Smith (BBA ’98). “Their needs are immediate.”
The Laurier COVID-19 Emergency Fund provides direct assistance in three areas of support: emergency financial relief to students who may have lost on-campus homes and means of employment; health and wellness supports for students whose mental and physical health is more at risk in this time of heightened anxiety; and investments into teaching and learning technologies to ensure continued student success as classes move online.
“Now more than ever our alumni network can support each other,” says Smith. “Thank you for all the different ways you share and show your Golden Hawk pride to fellow alumni, our future alumni and your communities, especially now.”
– Ryan Smith
Students have asked for help due to a range of serious concerns: they’ve lost summer jobs; they aren’t able to break their lease but need to go home; they’ve lost money because they are unable to sublet for the summer; they themselves are immunocompromised or, heartbreakingly, are needed to care for sick relatives. Some of these students have nowhere else to turn for assistance.
Alumni and friends interested in supporting the fund are able to do so online. Funds raised will be put toward helping Laurier respond to urgent needs during the COVID-19 crisis.