College of Health and Human Services

Established by Sharon Misasi, Sandra DeCicco, and Pat Panichas, the Believe Fund was created to help students Believe in themselves and attain their dreams. The Believe Fund provides emergency financial assistance to students in the College of Health and Human Services who are experiencing short-term, unanticipated financial hardships that jeopardize their educational dreams. When a student finds themselves in a difficult financial situation, this fund will allow us to provide the student with resources to purchase textbooks and course materials, pay for transportation, childcare, or household expenses, or assist with tuition and fee payments.

Examples of how your donation can assist:

• $50 - $100 can provide support for a student’s most basic need such as a week of groceries or 5-10 meals a week.
• $100 - $250 can provide a student with required textbooks for several courses and ensure that they do not attempt to complete those courses without securing those essential materials.
• $250 - $500 can help a student to pay their utility and internet bills at their off-campus apartment and ensure that they stay warm and complete their online class sessions and assignments.
• $1000+ can cover a tuition and fee payment for a student who could not pay their entire bill in advance and had to set up a payment plan but encountered unanticipated financial challenges during the semester.

Since the fund was started in April of 2022, the Believe Fund has assisted 111 students!