CREC CARES FUND GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION PROCESS

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1 CREC CARES FUND For staff, CREC isn't just a workplace, it's a community. And in times of crisis, a community offers support. The CREC Cares Fund is a unique employee directed giving program that is intended to support the emergency and immediate needs of CREC community members, including staff, teachers, students, and families who have experienced a catastrophic incident that has caused serious economic hardship. Each year, employee contributions towards this fund will be used to provide aid to students, families, and other CREC community members who have experienced an emergency, disaster, or some other personal or financial hardship. Situations that may qualify for assistance include: Accident or illness Death of an immediate family member Natural disaster (flood, tornado, etc.) Critical incidents (fire, theft, etc.) that cause a dramatic disruption in income or loss of primary residence To contribute towards this fund, employees can direct their donations throughout the year via the CREC Foundation. While the focus is on CREC employees helping each other, the fund will accept donations from sources outside of CREC as well. Decisions regarding the use of funds will be directed by the Executive Director on the basis of financial need and the severity and impact of the emergency on the CREC community member. GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION PROCESS POLICY CREC recognizes that its employees constitute a community. As such, the community often desires a mechanism to provide support for individuals in times of crisis. In response to this desire, CREC has established the CREC Cares Fund, to assist employees and CREC students and their families in times of need. Those wishing to contribute to or receive assistance from this fund shall comply with the procedures outlined in this policy. DEFINITIONS Qualifying Emergency Need: An unforeseen emergency arising from an accident or illness, death of an immediate family member, crime, natural disasters, and other critical incidents as deemed qualifying by the Care Cares Committee. Eligible Community Member: Current full-time or part-time regular CREC employee Current CREC School (Magnet School or Students Services Program) student/family

2 CREC Cares Committee: A committee appointed by the Executive Director. PROCEDURES Contributing to the Fund: Although some contributions to this fund may be in response to a specific beneficiary or emergency, CREC solicits and accepts general, undesignated contributions to support the goals of the fund. Donations to the CREC Cares Fund can be made at any time through the CREC Foundation. Donations to the fund will be tax deductible and will be recorded and acknowledged by the Development Office. Application and Award Process: Under this program, grants are made available to meet qualifying emergency needs of qualified CREC community members and their families in times of crisis and hardship. In the case of assistance for an immediate family member (of a qualified employee), the immediate family member shall be someone in the household for whom the applicant is responsible for the care and well-being. As an emergency program, grants are not intended as a source of ongoing or regular support. Grants provided are not a loan and need not be paid back to the fund. Applications and awards will be facilitated utilizing the following procedure: 1. Applicants must fill out the CREC Cares Fund Application. All applications will be treated as confidential. Additional documentation may be requested during the application review process. 2. Applications must be submitted to the Development Office at Foundation@crec.org attention Foundation Officer. 3. The CREC Cares Fund Committee will review applications and make recommendations to the Executive Director. 4. The Executive Director gives final approval or denial of the funding request. 5. CREC Foundation Officer will notify the employee of approval or denial within 7 business days after the application is received. 6. If the application is approved, funds are distributed via check or normal payroll distribution

3 CREC CARES FUND APPLICATION The CREC Cares Fund is a program offering financial assistance to CREC Community members who have experienced a non-recurring sudden or emergency-related financial hardship due to an unforeseen or unavoidable event. The CREC Cares Fund is administered confidentially through the CREC Foundation in conjunction with the Executive Directors office. Financial assistance provided through the Fund is intended to assist CREC community members with immediate, essential expenses by providing one-time funds to address emergency financial challenge. The program is funded through the generous donations of employees and others who are interested in supporting CREC community members who are in financial need due to an unplanned circumstance. The fund is not designed to address ongoing financial challenges and is not a loan that requires funds to be reimbursed. Applicant Information This portion of the application is confidential and will only be seen by the Fund Committee Name: Home Phone: Alternative Phone: Home Address: Address: Home City/State/Zip: Department/School: Position: Date of Hire: If this application is approved, how would you like to receive the check? Pick-up at Payroll Office Direct deposit into paycheck If this application is being completed by a representative of the applicant: Representative name: Relationship to applicant: Contact Information: I understand that I am solely responsible for the validity of the information provided on this application and that the personal financial information provided is current and accurate. I understand that any intentional misrepresentation in this application may result in cancellation and repayment of my CREC Cares Fund award and/or may result in adverse employment consequences for me. Signature Date

4 Emergency Description CREC FOUNDATION This information will be used by the CREC Cares Fund Committee in the application review process. You may attach additional paper if necessary. Please submit completed application to 1. What is the purpose of this request? Describe the circumstances that led to the emergency and the extent of the problem. Feel free to attach a sheet if you need to. 2. Please estimate the actual amount needed to overcome this immediate emergency*. *Appropriate taxes will be deducted from the total amount awarded. 3. What other agencies or organizations have you applied to for assistance? Have you received any financial help to date? If so, how much? 4. Do you expect a settlement or other reimbursement from any source to help with your emergency? If so, how much? Please explain. 5. Do you have an insurance policy that covers these circumstances and if so, what is the deductible?

5 6. Do you have the funds to cover this immediate need(i.e. savings or other available accounts)? CREC FOUNDATION 7. If this is a medical emergency, have you exhausted your health and personal leave and vacation accruals? Please attach proof of emergency Police/fire reports Death certificate Other Individuals that reside in the household

6 For Office Use Only Date received: Approval: Date approved: Amount requested: Amount approved: Denial: Request denied (date): Reason for denial: Notes: Authorized Signature: Date: