Imagine a student enrolled at Suffolk who suddenly experiences a crisis leading to a large, unexpected bill that they don’t have enough money to pay. Where can they turn for support?

Suffolk CARES is an important resource in such a dilemma. While Suffolk CARES Emergency Grants have been available for several years, a generous new contribution of $65,000 from Gerstner Philanthropies has significantly boosted the funds to aid students in these acute situations. Doreen Floyd, Director of Student Outreach and Support at Suffolk, notes that the grants are essential for students who have experienced an emergency such as income loss, injury, or domestic abuse. These grants can cover expenses such as emergency medical bills, a loss of housing due to fire or other circumstances, utility bills, or car repairs.

Because emergencies may be complex, Suffolk employs a holistic approach to effectively help students navigate them. Thus, when students approach CARES for help, the program not only documents their needs should they require financial assistance but also assigns them to a case manager. Partnering with the case manager, students (undergraduate, graduate, and law students are eligible) develop a success plan to address their current crisis as well as longer-term needs. In addition to potential emergency grants, CARES also connects students to other Suffolk resources, such as academic support and the Suffolk CARES Pantry, which bolster their holistic well-being. The goal, according to Floyd, is for students to “find a viable solution for their problems—and once those problems are resolved, they can focus on being the best version of themselves, both academically and personally.”

Doreen Floyd, Director of Student Outreach and Support at Suffolk

The outlook for Suffolk students in these challenging situations has brightened considerably thanks to Gerstner Philanthropies’ investment. Since the inception of the foundation’s Helping Hands emergency grant program, 86% of students who have received a grant have either remained enrolled or graduated, thanks in part to this critical assistance. Victoria Coker, Program Officer, shared “At Gerstner Philanthropies, we believe that timely and strategic support can help students regain stability and stay on track to achieving their academic goals.” Such outcomes are confirmed by research cited in the online blog Higher Education Today, indicating that emergency financial assistance has a positive impact on student persistence and degree completion.

Students’ financial difficulties may have various causes, such as job loss, unexpected reduction in family income, health problems, injuries, and safety concerns, among other extenuating circumstances or crises. At Suffolk, more students now require financial assistance than in the recent past. This is demonstrated by the percentage of Suffolk undergraduates who receive Pell grants (an indicator of exceptional family financial need) which rose sharply from 28% in FY23 to 38% in FY26. As the economy continues to experience increased volatility, access to emergency funds becomes even more urgent.

CARES is entirely reliant on donations and, fortunately, contributions from a number of Suffolk alumni, friends, and foundations have supported the program since its inception. However, the maximum size of emergency grants from CARES to students had declined over the last three years to $150 in the 2025-26 academic year, despite needs that far exceeded this cap. Now, throughout the remainder of 2026, with Gerstner Philanthropies’ vital support, Suffolk CARES can approve more emergency requests than in previous years to better address students’ actual financial needs.

Gerstner Philanthropies’ contribution aligns seamlessly with Suffolk’s core mission of providing a higher education to those students who might not otherwise have access to this lifelong advantage. “The grant from Gerstner Philanthropies,” Floyd remarks, “clearly makes it more possible for our students to complete their degrees at Suffolk despite unexpected roadblocks they may encounter. It’s a pivotal investment in their future.”