April 7, 2020
Dear Gettysburgians,
Today is Founders Day, and as I take a moment to reflect on the significance of this milestone 188 years in the making, I cannot help but wonder what our College Founder Samuel Simon Schmucker would think of today’s global crisis and the response to that crisis by the Gettysburg College community, including alumni near and far. As an institution founded by a committed abolitionist and reformer with a deep commitment to the value of the liberal arts, I believe that he would be proud of the selfless expressions of support that have been evident during the past several weeks; I can tell you that I most certainly am.
As you know, the challenges that have accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic have already had a significant impact on the world and on members of our own Gettysburg College community. While many experts are speculating on what the long-term repercussions of this pandemic could be for society and the overall economy, we are acutely aware that COVID-19 has and will continue to have an immediate effect on our community to which we must respond now.
As a result, we have shifted the priorities of the Gettysburg Fund to better reflect the most urgent needs of the College at this time.
In true Gettysburg fashion—consistent with our founding values and principles—many of you have reached out to ask what you can do to support your alma mater during this very challenging period. My ask of you is this: please consider making a gift to the Gettysburg Fund as the most effective way to directly support our students, their families, and our dedicated College employees who are most likely to be impacted by the effects of COVID-19. To be more specific, your gift to the Gettysburg Fund will be directed exclusively to the following efforts:
- Supporting our students, including those who must remain on campus, by funding emergency expenses, such as technology support, to enable their full participation in remote learning.
- Upholding our commitment to paying the wages of our College work-study students through May 3.
- Partnering with new and returning families to ensure that a Gettysburg education is affordable.
- Supporting our employees—especially those who continue to work on campus to care for the 49 students who cannot return to their homes.
- Crediting one-half of our students’ room and board charges for the spring semester.
Never has the need for unrestricted gifts to the Gettysburg Fund been more urgent, nor has the potential for tangible, immediate impact been greater. It has been so gratifying to see both the generosity and the pace with which this community stepped up to the appeal for our Student Emergency Fund. To date, 585 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students have contributed more than $86,000, which has been directly allocated to the nearly $98,000 in requests processed to date. These gifts have had an immediate impact on our most financially vulnerable students.
Your expressions of concern and desire to help your alma mater, while not surprising, are deeply appreciated. It is clear from your actions that Gettysburg College is upholding Samuel Schmucker’s vision to prepare students for lives of impact and active citizenship. Your generosity will have an immediate and profound impact on our College family as we face these uncertain times together. Please click HERE to make your contribution.
Thank you for your expressions of concern and support for your alma mater and those of us entrusted with its care. All best wishes for your safety and health on this Founders Day, and in the weeks and months ahead.
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President