Nearly $300K raised by USask community to help students in crisis

SASKATOON – Most students have enough to focus on in the last months of any school year—between finishing classes and assignments, looking for summer work opportunities, and planning for their final exam study schedule. But spring of 2020 has brought additional challenges for University of Saskatchewan (USask) students who have faced unexpected and increased pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of USask alumni and friends, donations to the Nasser Family Emergency Student Trust to help students has amounted to $288,000, including a $100,000 matching donation from Dr. Kay and Dora Nasser. 

The Nassers initiated the trust in 2013 to help students quickly in a wide variety of crisis situations, with no repayment required. It has since helped students financially deal with issues like relocating after family break-ups, affording flights home for funerals, treating medical emergencies and managing an unexpected loss of employment. 

This year, the Nasser Family Emergency Student Trust has helped students return home to their families, purchase equipment to study remotely, and to cover the most essential living expenses like groceries and rent. It also helps ensure that USask students can finish their studies this year, rather than deferring their educational goals. More than 160 students in crisis were granted emergency financial support in the past month.

Media interviews are available with Patti McDougall, USask vice-provost of teaching, learning and student experience.

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For more information, contact:

Victoria Dinh
Communications and Media Relations Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-5487
victoria.dinh@usask.ca