Community members came out in a big way to show their love and support of students at The Ohio State University at Mansfield. With a goal of $5,000, Ohio State Mansfield more than doubled that mount, raising a total of $10,027 in support of the Student Emergency Fund during the annual Richland Gives fundraiser in Richland County on November 28.
Richland Gives coincides with the international day of giving called Giving Tuesday. Members of the community are encouraged to contribute to local nonprofits through a single giving online platform. This year Ohio State Mansfield also organized a Nonprofit Showcase/Food Truck Rally at the Mansfield Campus Recreation Center. Thanks to 56 donors, many of them supporting for the first time, along with two corporate matching gifts and three additional grants from the Richland County Foundation, Ohio State doubled its fundraising for this vital student support fund from 2016.
Nonprofit organizations from throughout the community set up tables inside the Recreation Center to engage and inform students, faculty, staff, and the community about their organizations’ missions. Three local food trucks, Pancho’s Tacos, Simple Fire Pizza, and Sunset Slush, lined up outside of the Rec Center for attendees to enjoy a bite to eat in support of Richland Gives.
Director of Development and Community Relations Cindy Wood said, “If we could bottle and share the relief and gratitude from our students who are in need, our supporters would see the small gifts are making a tremendous impact.”
The Student Emergency Fund provides short-term financial assistance to qualified students who have unforeseen expenses and lack the resources to meet those costs. Some examples of those costs include a tuition shortfall, a sudden health emergency, or a natural disaster. Dr. Norman Jones, interim dean and director at Ohio State Mansfield, is proud of the community and the campus for their support of this fund. “These kinds of funds help student’s complete degrees,” said Jones. “We have students who can go one way or the other, and these kinds of emergency funds can help them get on that path to get the degree they need.”
Randal Roberts-Anderson, the 2017 honorary chair of the Richland Gives Campaign on the campus, was one of the many students that found relief from the fund. Roberts-Anderson came to Ohio State Mansfield as a first-generation student. During his final year, he didn’t have the money to pay tuition and that might have ended his college career. Fortunately, he reached out to his academic advisor, and thanks to this additional one-time support, he was able to graduate on time.
“I credit Ohio State Mansfield for my success. I am very thankful for the commitment and dedication to helping students succeed. Even the small donations add up. Thank you to all who were able to give,” Robert-Anderson said proudly. Robert- Anderson submitted a gift for matching corporate support during the Richland Gives event.
Source, Photo: OSU Mansfield
