Among the many aspects that go into choosing our Scholars each year, we especially value Scholars who have a commitment to service. Whether it is volunteering with an organization in our community or taking care of siblings and older family members, our Scholars demonstrate a high level of compassion. It comes as no surprise, then, that after many of our Scholars graduate, they return to Palmer Scholars, wondering how they can help their younger Palmer brothers and sisters.
In the Fall of 2019, Palmer Scholars alumni started the “Oh Crap” Fund, a pool of money that many who have experienced challenges in their early years of adulthood would have appreciated. The “Oh Crap” Fund (OCF) is an alumni-led fund that was created to support current Scholars with emergency needs such as an unexpected medical bill, a broken-down car, or a recent layoff.
As you may know, the COVID-19 pandemic has left many in our community out of work. Unfortunately for our Scholars, high school and college students were often the first to be laid off in an effort to support older employees. For many of our Scholars, these jobs were not just for earning extra spending money. These jobs helped our Scholars support their own family’s expenses, from rent to groceries. Luckily, the Palmer Scholars family is always here to help.
Since its inception in 2019, the “Oh Crap Fund” has collected $3220 in funds and has supported nearly 30 Scholars in need of emergency support during the pandemic. As an organization, we say, “Once a Palmer Scholar, always a Palmer Scholar.” We are proud that our alumni have taken this to heart, serving their Palmer Scholar family long after graduation.