In 2018, nearly three out of 10 PC students hailed from households with annual incomes of $50,000 or less.

“The Religious Life office noticed an increase in acute financial stress among these students in 2019,” Perrin Tribble ‘11, PC’s director of church relations, said.

The financial burden often prevented students from buying academic materials they needed, like textbooks and online learning materials. Some students struggled to purchase hygiene items.

Two years ago, GRACE began as a pilot program in response to the growing number of economically disadvantaged and underserved students at PC. A grant was applied for and was awarded that led to the formation of the GRACE Fund. Standing for Giving Resources & Achieving Community Equity, the GRACE Fund is an emergency response initiative for students facing acute financial insecurity.

“The GRACE Fund is at the heart of the school motto and is an effort to increase retention rates and to make PC accessible for all students,” Tribble said.

“The GRACE Fund is used to address and alleviate stress quickly for the students. Other resources and departments on campus also work together to help students create a sustainable academic future.”

A board of representatives, including faculty members and staff members across campus, govern the fund. Faculty and staff members most often refer students who seem to have unmet needs. Through a referral and review process, the board determines the level of assistance each student needs.

Many PC alumni themselves have successfully escaped generational poverty by having pursued and earned a post-secondary education degree. Since 2019, 15 students have benefited from the GRACE Fund.

“This year was particularly difficult for many students, including myself, due to the ongoing global pandemic,” one PC student said.