Message to Alumni regarding Maroon Emergency Fund

Maroons, let's join together!

Dear Maroon Family,

As we continue to navigate these unprecedented and challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful for the support and encouragement we are receiving from the Roanoke College community.

The recent decision to continue remote instruction for the remainder of the spring semester and to postpone our Commencement was very difficult. The College continues to act in the best interest and safety of our students, our campus, and the larger community that we serve while following the CDC recommendations.

The necessary decision for our students to move home and transition to online education has resulted in hardship for many of our students. The types of needs that our students are already experiencing include:

• Travel expenses due to the unexpected move from campus
• Access and connectivity to the internet giving students the ability to complete their coursework
• Hardware, such as computers or tablets, to provide access to online courses
• Loss of campus jobs or part-time work as local restaurants and service businesses are closing or reducing hours.

We want to do our best to provide assistance when an unexpected financial hardship jeopardizes a student's progress toward completion of their degree. The Maroon Emergency Fund was established to provide immediate financial support for students experiencing varying degrees of uncertainty around basic needs and/or financial distress. The need for this fund increases during times of crisis. We expect that requests for help from our students will grow in the days ahead.

As a member of the Maroon family, you are an essential part of the College’s ability to respond quickly to this ever-changing crisis. We are humbled by the many requests from our community who want to help.  If you are able, a contribution to the Maroon Emergency Fund is an immediate way to address the needs facing so many of our students.

Gifts to this fund provide urgently needed resources and encouragement to our students and their families. We will continue to process gifts sent by mail, however, online gifts are the most efficient and timely way to support Roanoke students right now. 

Support Roanoke Students Today

Another way to support our students is to give them the sense of community that is missing in their day-to-day lives.  They are dealing with disappointment and change.  They have questions and concerns about how they will complete their education. It continues to be our mission to see every Maroon walk across that stage at their commencement.

In the meantime, we invite you to send them a message of encouragement. It could be a video, a photo or whatever you want. If you have a public account, share your messages on Instagram or Twitter with #MaroonsTogether.  If you have a private account, you can DM your message to @roanokecollege on Twitter or Instagram or email it to alumni@roanoke.edu. We will share some of them and direct students to check out the new hashtag.

As we all come together, albeit virtually, we are thankful for one constant - your loyal support and commitment to our students.

Warmest regards,

Aaron L. Fetrow
Vice President for Resource Development