Alumni, Friends Provide ‘Safety Net’ for Students

Babson College alumni, families, and friends from all over have overwhelmingly responded to support students during the global health crisis.

“The tremendous response from people on campus and around the world demonstrates that when times are tough, the Babson community comes together in inspiring ways,” said Edward Chiu, the Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Senior Vice President for Advancement.

As of April 22, more than 500 Babson community members had donated more than $135,000 to the Emergency Fund.

To donate to the Emergency Fund, visit babson.edu/emergencyfund.

“The College has a long history of folks providing support to students on an ad hoc basis,” said Ryan Travia, associate dean of students for wellness. “It seemed like an opportune moment to mobilize these efforts.”

In the first few weeks of the crisis, the fund was critical in helping students move off campus, providing assistance with transportation, housing, shipping costs, and offsite storage needs. It also helped provide temporary financial support to students while refunds were processed for meal plans and housing.

The Emergency Fund is supporting student needs related to the new virtual academic environment, including WiFi, mobile phone bills, and other technology costs, ensuring that all students can access online classrooms. It continues to assist students who have lost their jobs and internships because of the pandemic.

Reserves also are providing food and personal care essentials for students who remain on campus because of travel restrictions or other impediments; about 65 students were still on campus as of April 1.

As the crisis continues and impacts the economy, the need will only grow when students return to campus.

“Given the ongoing health crisis and economic downturn, providing a financial safety net for our students has never been more important,” Chiu said. “We need to be here for them.”

Alongside this essential funding, the Babson community has rallied to find other ways to help. In true Babson fashion, community members used their creative problem-solving skills to find thoughtful solutions to student issues such as travel and housing.

“Given the ongoing health crisis and economic downturn, providing a financial safety net for our students has never been more important. We need to be here for them.”
Edward Chiu, the Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Senior Vice President for Advancement

Stephen Martiros ’83, MBA’85, P’21 ’21, an alumnus and parent of two Babson students, has taken in a classmate of his children—just one of many parents who helped ensure that roommates and friends also have a safe place to stay this semester.

Alumni and friends donated frequent flyer miles and purchased plane tickets for international students. And, when staff could no longer travel, several alumni and parents offered to help the Babson admissions offices recruit prospective students.

“I’ve always been struck by the tremendous ethic of care that folks in the Babson community demonstrate for one another,” Travia said. “Donors are leading with their hearts and finding the opportunity to provide what they can, when they can.”

Posted in Community

Tagged Babson Magazine, Alumni

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