Message from the President: A Helping Hand in Times of Emergency

An unexpected car repair. A doctor’s bill. A trip to care for a family member suddenly taken ill. Over one-third of American adults lack enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense for these common situations. For those without a high school degree—like the vast majority of the Community Learning Center’s students--the statistics are much worse: only 1 in 4 could manage a $400 emergency without going into debt.

A CLC student recently escaped a devastating house fire, losing everything he owned except the clothes on his back. Yet he showed up to class two days later. That’s dedication! The student knew that the CLC gives him a long-term path to greater financial stability, and his classroom can offer a much-needed sense of consistency, social support, and purpose at a time when his life has been thrown into turmoil.

But the Friends were also ready to step in with a grant from the Student Support fund, which provides help to students whose unexpected life circumstances threaten to disrupt their education. The award will help the student with immediate necessities such as food, weather-appropriate clothing, and a transit pass so that he can continue to come to school.

The Student Support fund is just one way in which the Friends of the CLC make a real and practical difference in people’s lives. By providing the means to help students stay in school, the Friends help keep them on the path to a better life for themselves, their families, and our entire community.

Your donations make the Student Support fund possible. Applications for help are already up this year compared to 2025. Given the current economic and political climate, we expect the need for assistance to keep increasing. Please give as generously as you can, knowing that your contributions have an immediate impact on the lives of our students. 

As always, thanks for your support.

With all best wishes for a happy and healthy spring,

Phyllis Benjamin

President

Friends of the Community Learning Center