Berkeley knows it’s not enough to formally have a diverse student body. The university wants all of its students to thrive, not just survive, during their campus years. Building futures this way requires the provision of basic student needs, tailored guidance, and adequate funding to allow students to dream big. Partners checked all of these boxes in FY23.
Funding Basic Needs
Future leaders can’t thrive when hungry. Amid troubling increases in food insecurity among the Berkeley community, Bank of the West and Peet's Coffee subsidized more than $60,000 of meals, key supplies, and fresh produce for campus food pantry and university gardens initiatives.
Taking Control
Students’ transition to adulthood includes taking charge of their finances and careers. Our partners empowered more than 3,000 students to manage their money and direct their professional development with more than $80,000 to further financial education and career networking programs designed for students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds. The support helped students to approach their futures with a financial plan and key connections to take the next step in their careers.
Dreaming Big
As debt continues to weigh on the college experience, our partners sent $176,500 in scholarships to students with declared interests in inclusive, civically-engaged communities. The funding allowed young scholars to focus on school and their post-graduation careers, minimizing the need for loans and non-career aligned part-time work.