Mo’s Fund to the Rescue

After Meeghan Rossi’s ’17 first year of college, her father was diagnosed with cancer. In addition to the emotional burden, Rossi’s family suffered significant financial stress from the exorbitant medical bills; then Rossi discovered Mo’s Fund and the relief it provided.

Mo’s Fund was established in 2014 because sometimes students need to be rescued too. The fund provides support to students who are experiencing a financial hardship due to some life-shaking event such as the death of a provider or foreclosure of a home. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled full time, not have a record of disciplinary action within the previous 12 months, and be able to provide documentation to support the hardship, such as a death certificate or foreclosure notice.

Financial hardships are defined as events affecting the student’s ability to meet basic living expenses. Examples of events are--but not limited to--a death in the immediate family; unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance; uninsured losses caused by fire, crime, flood, or other disasters; unsupportable debt occurring for reasons outside of the family’s control. The maximum award amount from Mo’s Fund is $1,500 per student each year and is subject to the availability of funds and the extent of financial need caused by the hardship.

“It’s the reason I am able to remain a student here,” says Rossi, “and it has lifted a great deal of stress off me and my family.”

The fund is supported by the charitable donations of alumni and other supporters of Moravian University who want to help students facing unexpected challenges to their financial security. To make a contribution, go to https://secure.moravian.edu/makegift/contribution.asp and simply put "Mo's Fund" in the designation box. Or, you may mail a gift to: Mo's Fund, Advancement Office, Moravian University, 1200 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018.  

Note: An article about Mo’s Fund appeared in the February 22, 2016, edition of The Washington Post.