College of the Desert Foundation steps up for students in need -- and asks community to do the same

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College of the Desert in Palm Desert is known for its affordability, but that doesn’t mean students don’t need financial help, especially during a pandemic.

In April, as COVID-19 was sweeping across the world, the college and its nonprofit College of the Desert Foundation worked together to activate the student emergency fund.

In the past, the fund had been used to help students with tuition or with car repairs or other emergencies.

“This time it was different,” Catherine Abbott, executive director of the foundation, said. “The emergency fund really became an important lifeline for students.“

The foundation transferred $100,000 into the emergency fund to help students who had lost their jobs and needed help paying rent, buying food and paying medical bills.

“Since the activation in April, the foundation has given well over $250,000 to more than 320 students,” Abbott said. “We wish we could do more.”

Recently, the foundation voted to add another $100,000 to the student emergency fund.

“This is a critical time for the foundation and the college,” Abbott said.

The traditional fundraising gala for the foundation had to be canceled because of COVID. So now the foundation has launched a fundraising drive called “Stepping Up for COD.”

One of the pillars of the campaign is the student emergency fund.

“We really learned a lesson that the student emergency fund is critical,” she said.

Workforce development is also a key component of the fundraising effort.

“California community colleges are known to be the training ground for students who are interested in the career technical education fields, but also for displaced workers,” she said. “If a displaced worker finds themselves wanting or needing to find a new career, community colleges can train them.”

Another pillar of the campaign is the Fund for Student Success, a comprehensive way to support priority Student Success initiatives.

The campaign also emphasizes the “Edge Pledge” program, which offers two years of free tuition and fees for students who complete community service while they are in school. Students attend a summer workshop that prepares them for the fall semester.

“Fund the Future," another program, allows donors to leave endowments to the fund.

“These will help support College of the Desert students for decades to come,” Abbott said.