The Support Our Spartans Emergency Needs Fund—also known as S.O.S.—is helping students struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to donors and students themselves.
Established in 2010 to provide students financial support to pay unexpected expenses that arise from emergency situations, the S.O.S. fund received a major boost beginning in March of 2020 with a $265,360 contribution from the Associated Students of Michigan State University and the MSU Residence Halls Association.
Once applications opened for students to request help from the fund, more than 7,400 applied—3,000 of them within the first 24 hours. Eligible students received a one-time grant of up to $500 and are not required to repay the award.
During fiscal year 2020, more than 1,180 annual donors contributed more than $90,000 to the S.O.S. fund. By the end of June, 10,988 donors gave $1,180,755 to college-level emergency assistance funds and community response funds, as well as the S.O.S. fund.
“It is impressive and gratifying to see how Spartans are looking out for one another,” said President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “Many in our community are experiencing financial difficulties and your support is providing a lifeline when they need it most.”
Janet and I are honored to be Spartans. We strongly believe it is our Spartan obligation to provide support whenever possible to our students, especially during these unexpected and unprecedented turbulent times.