COVID-19 Support Fund for UC Davis Health
UC Davis Health employees can now apply for grants of up to $1,000 to help with additional financial burden brought on by COVID-19.
In March, UC Davis Health established a COVID-19 Support Fund, which has received over $100k in donations from employees and the broader community.
“Our thanks go out to each of the many donors who contributed so generously during this pandemic,” said Brad Simmons, UC Davis Medical Center Interim CEO. “Those donations will not only support employees in need, but they will expand our ability to test for COVID-19 and provide timely results.”
Career and contract employees can apply for up to $1,000 every 12 months, and grants will be provided as long as funds are available.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis Health employees have been called upon to support extraordinary health needs in the community. “All of our employees are invaluable to patient care and many are dealing with incredible personal and family challenges,” remarked Toby Marsh, Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services Officer. “From increased child and elder care costs, to uninsured medical expenses, some of our employees are struggling and we can offer help.”
A confidential committee coordinated by HR’s WorkLife unit is ready to begin reviewing applications and then issue funds expediently. This committee understands that employees have urgent needs and are reaching out from a place of stress, uncertainty and anxiety. “We will treat every applicant with the utmost respect and dignity,” reinforced Christine Lovely, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our employees make the university better every day and in turn we’ll continue advancing initiatives that put people first.”
In the very near future, UC Davis will launch employee hardship funds for support beyond COVID-19. Those funds are brand new and are starting out empty, but University Development and other campus partners are committed to growing it beyond expectations. And UC Davis has a history of stepping up when colleagues are in need – you’ve already donated over 2,200 vacation hours to the Catastrophic Leave General Pool since May.