A day recognized globally each year with its focus on generosity, Giving Tuesday – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – aims to create a culture of compassion and philanthropy by encouraging individuals to donate to their favorite cause, nonprofit or charity.
One local opportunity for Giving Tuesday is to donate in support of Cal State Fullerton’s Basic Needs Services, a critical department on campus that provides resources to students in need in areas such as food insecurity, temporary housing, hygiene products and career clothing.
In addition to providing items of support through the ASI Food Pantry or Tuffy’s Career Closet, CSUF Basic Needs Services also provides Basic Needs Grants, financial assistance for students who are experiencing unforeseen hardships in areas related to housing, transportation, utilities or medical care. Monetary donations received this Giving Tuesday in support of CSUF Basic Needs Grants will help ensure Titans can stay focused on their educational path.
“These grants are provided to (students who) find themselves in very unexpected circumstances where they can’t pay for their housing or their transportation method is taken away from them,” said CSUF Director of Annual Giving, Grace Johnson. “With what we are able to provide with these grants, it gives them options that allow their lives to be as disturbed as little as possible.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, CSUF Basic Needs Services has seen triple the requests, which equates to approximately 600 students per week. Economic inflation has played a large role in this increase in need, but Johnson says the objective is to not let the economy keep these Titans from pursuing their educational goals.
“We don’t want those outside factors to be the reason they are getting pulled away from their career path and from where they want to be,” Johnson said. “For any student, Cal State Fullerton is a stepping stone to what they want to do for the rest of their lives. They’re spending these very transformative years here to get somewhere else, and for some people, it’s to get to a better life. With Basic Needs Services, they’re able to stay on track, graduate and get to that next point.”
In the past four years, Giving Tuesday donations have raised more than $50,000 for Basic Needs Grants, and this year, the goal is to surpass $10,000 in giving in support of this emergency funding for students. For 2023, a generous donor is providing a matching gift up to $5,000, allowing each person’s donation to have an even greater impact.
“We’re really grateful for our matching gift donor,” Johnson said. “It allows people who think that their donation might not mean a lot to actually have a really great value. It means a lot when people choose on Giving Tuesday to prioritize Cal State Fullerton because they recognize the value that this institution serves to our Orange County community, which allows us to continue to be a partner in that way.”
Giving Tuesday is Nov. 28, but those who want to contribute to the efforts of CSUF’s Basic Needs Services can donate now by visiting give.fullerton.edu/kindness. A monetary gift not only supports Titan students but the greater Orange County community that continues to benefit from CSUF graduates who are making an impact on the local workforce.
“That speaks to the power of this institution and how much we support the Orange County community,” Johnson said. “When someone makes a donation on Giving Tuesday for Cal State Fullerton Basic Needs Services, they’re helping continue to power Orange County and to drive the professional community that much further.
“And not just Cal State Fullerton,” Johnson continued. “It’s greater Orange County that benefits from this. We are putting our graduates out into the workforce. It’s really inspiring to see that people in the community care about our students and about where Cal State Fullerton is going and what we are doing for Orange County by making a donation.”
To donate in support of Cal State Fullerton’s Basic Needs Grants, visit give.fullerton.edu/kindness
To learn more about Cal State Fullerton’s Basic Needs Services, visit https://www.fullerton.edu/basic-needs/
