New Mexico State University

The Perozynski Employee Emergency Fund provides assistance for NMSU faculty/staff facing immediate, severe and temporary financial hardship due to an emergency. The program is administered through the NMSU EAP and a Faculty/Staff review committee. This is funded through private donations and held by the New Mexico State University Foundation, Inc. in the Perozynski Employee Emergency Assistance Endowed Fund.

History

A  tragic loss inspired a Aggie friend to give back. The Perozynski Employee Emergency Fund (endowed) was established by Dr. Margaret Lovelace in memory of her friend and colleague Dr. Lisa Baron Perozynski, a faculty member at NMSU Carlsbad, who succumbed to complications after surgery. At the time of her illness, Lisa was a nine month faculty member and did not qualify for sick leave. In 2004, while serving as a member of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Lovelace participated in workshops that encouraged senators to make a difference at State. Margaret took action and established an endowed fund to serve faculty and staff -- that shows our Aggie heart. Over the years, Margaret and other philanthropic faculty and staff have helped to grow the fund. Lisa’s memory lives on with every Aggie assisted during an emergency.

Who is eligible to receive assistance?

The program is limited to a one time gift. New Mexico State University recognizes that faculty/staff may experience hardships that require emergency financial assistance. This program is available to assist eligible faculty/staff who are experiencing a personal financial emergency and who have exhausted other avenues for obtaining assistance. The program provides faculty/staff who demonstrate the most need with a gift, not a loan.

Recipient must:
*Be an employee of New Mexico State University. This includes the Las Cruces campus and all NMSU Community Colleges
*Have a temporary financial hardship because of an emergency situation
*Must be employed at a minimum 50% full-time equivalent
*Have at least nine (9) months of regular employment at the time of the application
*Have considered other possible resources which turned out to be not available or not sufficient to meet the need

Definition of an Emergency

An emergency shall be defined as an event which is unforeseen and beyond the employee's control and has imposed a temporary, sudden, non-recurring economic hardship on the employee. "Temporary" means that the employee was able to manage finances before but is now in significant debt or hardship, and the Perozynski Fund could assist her/him in regaining financial stability. If the employee has long-standing financial problems s/he would not meet the temporary hardship requirements and would not be eligible for a gift. The employee is, as a result, unable to meet immediate, essential expenses and has exhausted other available avenues of assistance. This program is not intended to supplement salary but is to pay certain specific expenses incurred as a result of the defined emergency.

Examples include but are not limited to the following:
*Natural disaster
*Domestic violence
*Death of an immediate family member (NMSU Policy 7.20.30)
*Fire
*Serious illness
*Critical injury

How to Apply for Emergency Funds

Please email campus_health@nmsu.edu for more information.

Confidentiality

Information provided by the applicant will be treated as confidential and shared only with the Review Committee and those directly involved in processing the distribution of funds. The application will be reviewed anonymously and the Review Committee members will not be given the individual name associated with any applicant.

Availability of Funds

A limited amount of funds from the earnings account will be distributed on an annual basis. As the endowment fund grows, more resources will be made available for distribution.

Contributions (Employees helping Employees)

The initial funding of the Perozynski Emergency Employee Endowed Fund was designed to assist employees a financial hardship through Dr. Margaret Lovelace's gracious gift. This fund is supported strictly through private gifts. No state or federal funds are used.

Faculty, staff, alumnae or any private party can make a gift donation to the Perozynski Employee Emergency Endowed Fund through the NMSU Foundation. Contact Robert Peterson, gift planning director, at (575) 646-4358, rpeterson@nmsufoundation.org or payroll deduction can be set up online at mypayrollgift.nmsu.edu or give online at support.nmsu.edu

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