CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga Community College Foundation has received a $1 million donation from the Medical Mutual Charitable Gift Fund to launch a program aimed at helping students stay enrolled despite unexpected financial hardships.
The Resilient Scholar Fund will provide targeted financial support to address challenges such as food insecurity, child care, housing instability and transportation costs, the college said in a statement.
The program also will offer financial planning, budgeting guidance and connections to other resources.
“Too many Tri-C students face a hard choice: stay enrolled or cover basic life expenses,” said Howard Lewis, chair of the Tri-C Foundation board of directors.
The goal is to assist students facing unexpected financial barriers that could otherwise derail their education, the college’s foundation leaders said. The fund will prioritize students enrolled in programs tied to high-demand fields, including health care and nursing, information technology, manufacturing, and public safety.
In recent surveys of students, Tri-C found that:
74% have financial difficulties.
61% would have difficulty finding $500 in emergency cash or credit.
54% have challenges finding and keeping affordable, safe and quality housing.
19% have been without a home in the past 12 months.
49% were food insecure.
“As the hometown health insurer, we’ve seen firsthand how Tri-C empowers individuals to lead and contribute meaningfully to our region’s workforce,” said Medical Mutual President and CEO Tony Helton. “Every dollar invested with Tri-C is a step toward a stronger, more resilient community.”