Let’s not mince words: recent events have revealed just how fragile LCU Scholars’ finances are.

When government programs like SNAP or WIC experience delays or disruptions, the effect is immediate. Any interruption in basic supports can quickly lead to difficult tradeoffs for the low-income women we sponsor— students training for careers in teaching, nursing, social work, public administration, and the arts—vital roles that strengthen communities and change lives every day. A gap in food assistance adds stress to already tight budgets—and that stress can quickly turn into a shortfall in rent.

These moments reveal a broader truth: even small, unexpected expenses can threaten a scholar’s stability, her housing, and her ability to remain enrolled.

The LCU Emergency Fund exists for exactly these moments. It provides one-time support to final-year scholars facing unexpected housing costs that could derail their graduation. Knowing that many of our scholars would be impacted by recent disruptions in SNAP, we quickly expanded eligibility so that those affected could receive $200 in emergency aid. It’s donors like you who have enabled us to disburse $11,000 this year in emergency grants to prevent sudden crises from turning into housing emergencies.

These experiences underscore just how essential this fund is—and how critical it is that we sustain it.

LCU Scholar Emergency Fund