Scholarship America’s National Disaster Relief Fund Helps California Students Rebuild
Life in the face of a natural disaster can seem completely overwhelming. Whether it’s flood, fire, wind or earthquake, one terrifying moment can lead to a rebuilding effort that feels endless.
For college students struck by natural disasters, the feeling is even worse. They may be far from home; they’re likely to be struggling to make ends meet while paying for school. Most don’t have the kind of savings needed to replace lost textbooks or clothes, much less a car or computer. Without timely support, they may be forced to leave school—and that can have a massive impact. Studies have shown that if financial worries cause a student to “stop out” of college for even a single semester, they only have a 30% chance of returning.
That’s why Scholarship America established our National Disaster Relief Fund following the devastating 2005 hurricane season that saw Katrina, Rita and Wilma hit the southeastern United States. The Fund has stepped in where needed in subsequent years, most recently to aid students impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Now, in response to the wildfire outbreak in California, we are actively fundraising in order to support the significant need of as many affected students as we can.
Supporting Scholarship America’s National Disaster Relief Fund means getting money into the hands of students who need it, right when they need it most.
Scholarship America is Uniquely Positioned to Help
We use our nationwide reach to partner with colleges and universities in the affected areas. Through the Fund, we provide grants to those schools—and their staff on the ground disburse funds to students experiencing financial hardship to help with tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board or other education-related expenses.
Join Us to Support Students Affected by Natural Disasters
As students, families and schools in the path of the California fires begin the long process of rebuilding, your support means the world to them. Please consider a gift to Scholarship America’s National Disaster Relief Fund today. You’re making it possible for a student to keep following their dreams in the face of disaster.