The University of Oklahoma family is stepping up to help students in need. Sooners Helping Sooners is an emergency fund that offers limited emergency financial assistance to current OU students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Gifts to the fund will support undergraduate, graduate and professional students on OU’s Norman campus, the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and at OU-Tulsa. It aims to provide monetary assistance for rent, food, medical bills, technology needed for online learning, travel expenses and other necessities.
“The impact of the pandemic on our students’ finances has been profound, but the outpouring of support from our alumni and friends illustrates the caring, benevolent spirit of the OU community,” said OU Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Their support is an important reminder of how much we rely on each other and how we are here for each other.”
Thanks to a generous contribution from country music star Luke Bryan and gifts from the OU family across the country, Sooners Helping Sooners has raised more than $125,000 to help students and other emergency needs during the crisis. Additional support for Sooners Helping Sooners comes from the University’s commitment of $200,000 in unrestricted private funds and donors who are re-directing their prior gifts to support student emergencies.
The fund was launched after many alumni and friends reached out to the University asking how they could help. More information about Sooners Helping Sooners is available here. To donate, visit link.ou.edu/shsgive.
Students who need help can submit an application at www.ou.edu/give/shs/apply. Students will be notified of funding approval via OU email. The fund is designed to provide short-term financial assistance and is not intended to replace or supplement financial aid.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu.
