Giving options to support those affected by the Creek Fire

Dear Colleagues,

I am touched by so many of you wanting to help our students and fellow colleagues who have been evacuated from nearby mountain communities affected by the Creek Fire.

As of early this afternoon, we are aware of approximately 25 colleagues and 70 students who have been impacted by the evacuations. However, with more communities being evacuated today, we know it is still early, and we stand prepared to lend assistance as needed.

As evidenced last fall when several students and a staff member lost their belongings and residences during an off-campus apartment fire, it’s times like this when the Bulldog community rallies together in show of support.

If you would like to support students affected by the wildfires with a monetary donation, please consider giving to the Good Samaritan Fund, a resource for students experiencing unanticipated financial challenges that can impact degree completion. The Good Samaritan Fund was established several years ago through generous campus and community contributions. These are grant funds, not loans, and, thus, do not have to be repaid.

In the past, through this fund, we have assisted students who were victims of apartment fires, thefts and various other unexpected losses of income where immediate help was needed for basic items, including food and temporary housing.

If you would like to support faculty and staff who have been affected by the fires, the University has established a new trust account, named the Catastrophic Fund for Fresno State Faculty and Staff. This fund will be used to address unexpected emergencies that have caused undue financial hardship for Fresno State employees. Employees will be asked to submit a simple application, similar to how students are able to access the Good Samaritan Fund. All full-time employees are eligible, including those employed by our auxiliaries. 

For timely updates on how the University is supporting those affected by the Creek Fire, please check your Fresno State email regularly, and see updates on http://www.fresnostate.edu/alert and on the University’s primary Twitter and Instagram accounts.

We continue to monitor the situation, and we will be in communication with students, faculty and staff who may be in need of assistance. Please join me in keeping our neighboring mountain communities in your thoughts, as well as all of the first responders who are working tirelessly to contain the fires and care for the injured.

Sincerely,