Brookdale Disaster Relief Fund Helps Students Continue Studies

Lincroft, NJ – Super Storm Sandy struck late October, in the middle of the fall semester, destroying homes, flooding neighborhoods, cars and closing businesses. Our communities and Brookdale students lost possessions and many also lost wages.

The Brookdale Community College Foundation started the Brookdale Disaster Relief Fund to help students enrolled in the fall 2012 semester and to help them continue their studies at Brookdale for the spring 2013 semester.

The campaign has raised over $143,000. Brookdale staff, faculty and alumni contributed over $15,000. The Foundation applied to the Robin Hood Relief Fund and received a $125,000 grant. The Foundation also applied to the National Student Nurses Association Foundation and recently received a $3,000 grant. The Brookdale Alumni Association donated $500 to the fund.

To date, more than $21,000 has been provided to 86 students for emergency needs. “We are now in the process of reevaluating each of the student’s needs so we can distribute all of the money raised and help our students continue and complete their studies at Brookdale,” explained Tim Zeiss, Executive Director, Foundation & Alumni Affairs.

The funds, not actual dollars, provide Brookdale students with emergency book scholarships, emergency meal plan scholarships and hardship financial aid reimbursements. Funds for books, meals and financial aid go directly into students’ college accounts to offset college expenses. The Foundation is supplementing the fund with unrestricted dollars.

Students may still apply for assistance. The application form is found on the Brookdale website at  http://www.brookdalecc.edu/pages/5552.asp.

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