STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS The Student Philanthropy Council encouraged upperclassmen to donate to help students in need. I n October 2018, the Harding University Student Philanthropy Council created the Student Emergency Fund, a campaign designed to help students when personal crisis strikes and causes financial burden. Generation HU Director and leader of the council Andi Haney expressed excitement about the new fund and explained that student emergency funds were common at ocher schools, and the success of chose funds inspired the council to start one at Harding where students were involved with financial giving. "It's a student-funded campaign," Haney said. "We are trying to really encourage seniors to give, but we are also opening it up so that all students can give to it. Our push behind it is a student-helpingstudent campaign." The focus of the campaign and the fund was the student body, so rhe Student Philanthropy Council wanted to incorporate students helping their peers. "It's something the philanthropy council sees as important for students to give to so they can help other fellow students," Haney said. "It creates that culture of giving and creates the heart of giving, you know, to be able to impact somebody else besides themselves." Dean of StudentLife Zach Neal said the Student Emergency Fund was designed to help any student in immediate need, but the fund's main focus was students who experienced a family member's death and needed help with travel expenses or students who needed financial assistance in an emergency medical situation. Neal said to receive funds, students would submit their requests co him through a personal conversation; then, needs were assessed and funds were distributed accordingly. "I think any organization wants to be able to help the people within that organization, but especially at Harding wich a very real community, a very real family approach, we want to know when someone's hurting or when someone's in need and do the very best we can to help in that situation," Neaslaid. Senior Rilee Hardcastle, president of the Student Philanthropy Council, said the council was focused on giving back to the Harding community and encouraged others to do the same. The fund was another way for Harding to further its community of mission and for current students and young alumni to take part in that mission. Hardcastle said she appreciated the peer-to-peer aspect of giving and the immediate connection students felt as they gave. "The biggest thing for me is knowing that my money that I give out of the goodness of my heart. .. might help someone sitting right next to me in class," Hardcastle said. story by Sarah Brister 252
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