By Emily Glory Peters
While Southern California’s devastating fires finally reach near full containment, the Scripps College community has been busy organizing support. Donations from alums, families, faculty, staff, students, and friends from across the country began pouring in within hours of the College’s creation of the new Scripps College Emergency Fund, reaching nearly $200,000 to provide direct relief for impacted community members.
The fund quickly materialized thanks to initial gifts from the College’s Board of Trustees, including a $100,000 gift from past Scripps Trustee and parent Gale Picker P’14, P’19, and combined donations of nearly $65,000 from other supporters. In addition to gifts collected on the campaign site, the College has released contributions to past emergency funds, making approximately $200,000 available to those in need.
Noting prior crises, President Amy Marcus-Newhall describes the collective effort as emblematic of the College’s culture of mutual aid.
“When the pandemic forced us to abruptly close campus, our community stepped up with funding for supplies, flights, remote learning tools, and even offers of temporary housing for students who couldn’t immediately return home,” she says. “That same generosity is evident as our members cope with loss of their homes, transportation, and belongings. I’m so proud to belong to this community of care.”
Grants for Scripps impacted students, faculty, and staff
The Scripps College Emergency Fund offers grants of up to $1,500 for current Scripps students, faculty, and staff to assist with costs incurred by disasters like the recent fires.
Support for hardships caused by qualified disasters—such as the federally declared Los Angeles wildfires—is normally not considered taxable income, and grants awarded to students won’t be deducted from their financial aid. Impacted individuals may seek aid via the Emergency Fund application.
The fund has garnered attention beyond Scripps’ campus. The American Council on Education highlighted the resource in their piece discussing educational institutions’ proactive measures to support their communities during natural disasters. Students from Scripps and The Claremont Colleges have also leaped into action, organizing GoFundMe campaigns, donating proceeds from a Scripps Associated Students fundraiser to fire relief efforts, and building air purifiers for residents coping with fire-related poor air quality.
Although the difficult journey to recovery is only just beginning, Marcus-Newhall is grateful for the ways the Scripps community has come to one another’s aid, adding, “As we continue to support those affected, we extend our deepest appreciation for everyone who has given to the Emergency Fund.”
To contribute to the Scripps College Emergency Fund, please click here and share the campaign with others. To apply for assistance, please visit the Scripps College Emergency Fund application.