Families of Gardner-Webb students are feeling the burden of a troubled economy. Parents are being laid off at work and are forced to consider the reality of forgoing their child’s education at GWU.
We hear and see the strain this is causing for our students and their families. It is our goal to ensure that these students have an opportunity to continue their education at GWU.
It’s with these thoughts that we appeal urgently to our alumni and friends for scholarship and student aid dollars over and above our other campaigns.
Your gift to the Keep Me Gardner-Webb initiative will allow our Financial Planning Officers the opportunity to react quickly to needs in our student community. Your gift could make all the difference for a Gardner-Webb student in 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the "Keep Me Gardner-Webb" initiative and why is it needed?
A: "Keep Me Gardner-Webb" is an emergency fundraising initiative to raise additional finances that will assist in meeting the needs of students impacted by the economic downturn and the continuing challenge of affording a higher education.
Q: How has this problem affected students?
A: Students across all economic backgrounds have been affected. In this economic state, parents are facing job loss and are seeing dramatic declines in savings funds. Additionally, the crisis in the banking industry has created a credit market in which the availability of loans is more rigid than it historically has been. More and more lenders are no longer offering alternative loans which is making it difficult for students to secure the additional funds needed to remain at GWU.
Q: How much financial aid does Gardner-Webb normally provide to students?
A: GWU funds more than $12 million annually in student financial assistance on top of aid from federal and state sources. Approximately 88% of Gardner-Webb students demonstrate a need for financial assistance. For this group, the average financial aid package is $16,406 (including GWU, federal and loan aid).
Q: Doesn't the University’s endowment help meet the needs of these students?
A: The University has increased its endowment in recent years. The funds generated through the endowment are used to help meet needs throughout the University. In today’s turbulent economy, students are in greater need than during stable economic conditions. During such periods, the need of our students exceeds the capacity of support that the University’s endowment can provide:
· The University’s endowment is a repository of permanently invested funds. To operate, the University maintains the principal of the endowment and only uses the funds earnings. This allows GWU to preserve the value of the endowment indefinitely while ensuring continued support for students and programs in the future.
· Many funds within the University’s endowment have been designated by the donor(s) for specific purposes. Therefore, not all earnings from the endowment are able to be designated for scholarship and financial aid support.
· Despite careful fiscal management, the holdings in Gardner-Webb’s endowment have been impacted by the economic conditions.
Q: How much of my gift will support students?
A: One hundred percent of the funds raised through this initiative will support students in need of financial assistance allowing them to continue their education at GWU.
Q: Are gifts to “Keep Me Gardner-Webb” tax deductible?
A: Yes, all contributions to the Gardner-Webb University are tax deductible as allowed by law.