This year during our Giving Tuesday Campaign from November 9 through December 1, the College of Nursing community rallied together to help raise over $10,000 in support for the Race into Finals Emergency Fund. This featured Giving Tuesday fund was created several years ago to provide emergency financial support to struggling students in an effort to keep them enrolled. Due to the pandemic, the emergency fund’s big fundraising event, Race into Finals 5K run/walk, traditionally held before spring finals week, was unable to take place this spring, yet the need for emergency funds was still ever-present. As the economic toll of the pandemic continues to unravel many of our students face burdens they would not in “normal” years. But as nurses do when they see someone in need, they help.
Thanks to the generosity of 1985 alumna, Nancy Tinsley, a $5,000 match was offered during the course of the Giving Tuesday campaign. This match offered an incentive to our community and they responded overwhelmingly. We saw an amazing outpouring of support from our faculty, staff, and alumni. However, the generosity did not end there. As nursing touches the lives of so many individuals in our community, numerous gifts were made by individuals not directly associated with the college. These individuals stated they simply received exceptional care from a Kent State nurse at some point in their life and wanted to pay it forward.
Many individuals choose to support a scholarship or program fund on Giving Tuesday as well. These funds also play a key role in making sure our students receive the best education possible. From scholarship dollars to funds to purchase new equipment or technologies, this Giving Tuesday saw our community continue to prove that investment in our young future nurses is a worthy one.
While we continue to adjust to virtual classes, smaller lab groups and enhanced safety procedures at clinical sites, we keep our eye on our mission to provide these students with an exceptional education. The support of our community on Giving Tuesdays helps us accomplish this goal.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Giving Tuesday campaign, and as always, if you are interested in supporting a student through a scholarship, providing funds to a particular area in the College of Nursing, or leaving the College of Nursing in your estate, contact Corey Hukill at chukill1@kent.edu or 330-571-0962.