Jadah Cunningham was planning to spend the weekend at her parents’ house. She went into work ready to finish her shift before heading home. But while she was working hard inside, a thief was working outside.
“When I got off work, I discovered my car had been broken into,” she recalls. “My backpack, purse, and an entire suitcase of my stuff was missing. I felt violated.”
Not only was Jadah preparing for her weekend trip, she was also in the middle of mid-terms and just eight days away from leaving for a professional conference in Phoenix.
“I feel lucky to be in the financial situation I’m in, but it was still incredibly difficult” she says. “My teachers were understanding and gave me extensions on my assignments, but I had to figure out fixing my car window, which was destroyed, and replacing everything that was stolen.”
Another blow for Jadah: insurance wouldn’t cover everything that was taken—and police had no leads on where her items were. That’s when a friend told her about the IUPUI O’Neill Student Emergency Fund. She applied for assistance online and was approved.
“It alleviated some stress, that’s for sure,” she says. “I was able to know that, at the very least, I had this to help me through.”
Jadah says that emergency fund is a great way to support students who find themselves in unexpected circumstances—and every student should be aware that it’s there to help.
“If you think you may need it, apply for it—it can’t hurt,” she says. “It’s nice to know your family at O’Neill has your back.”
That O’Neill family extends well beyond the campus. Donors are the ones who make funds like this possible.
“You’re helping students like myself through unforeseen financial circumstances that can make life way harder,” she says. “Your donations mean everything in times of crisis. Knowing I that I could turn to O’Neill in an emergency was a great feeling. O’Neill is more than a school; it truly is a family.”
You can help students just like Jadah by donating to the IUPUI O’Neill School Student Emergency Fund at this link.
