When Notre Dame faculty and staff participate in the United Way campaign, 5 percent of each gift goes into the Employee Compassion Fund. The fund, established by the University in 2006, assists employees facing financial hardship related to an unanticipated crisis. Qualifying applicants can receive up to $1,000 toward emergency expenses. The Office of Human Resources manages inquiries, which typically come through askHR@nd.edu, and a committee reviews applications.

Karen Carmona, captain of threat assessment with the Notre Dame Police Department, received help from the Compassion Fund in August, after lightning struck her apartment building late one night and sparked a fire.

“It was a super bad storm. I was in the kitchen and heard a really loud bang. It was so loud it shook the building. I looked outside and saw a red flare,” Carmona said. She texted her husband, who was at work. “I said, ‘I swear our apartment just got struck by lightning.’”

Within minutes fire alarms were blaring inside her building. Carmona acted swiftly, grabbing her car keys, cell phone and the couple’s dog. She placed the dog safely in her car and made two more trips inside to retrieve their two cats. All 26 families escaped the building without injury, but smoke and water caused extensive damage to the apartments.

Carmona and her husband lost most of their belongings that night, including a brand-new couch and wedding gifts they had received earlier this year. Fortunately, the newlyweds had renters insurance, which helped with some of the cost of starting over.

The Compassion Fund was also a great help. Tracy Skibins, senior director of emergency management, let Carmona know about the fund and encouraged her to contact HR. Laura Picking, director of employee experience and strategic operations, walked her through the Compassion Fund guidelines. Carmona qualified for the full $1,000 gift, and she put it toward rent on a new apartment.

“I just had to provide HR with a document showing the amount due and where the payment should be sent, and they sent out the check the next week,” Carmona said. “Whatever money wasn’t used for rent for those two weeks, the apartment complex carried over for our rent the next month.”

Carmona would like to thank faculty and staff members who contribute to the United Way campaign, and thereby the Employee Compassion Fund.

“Thank you for donating to United Way,” Carmona said. “The money you give makes a big difference for people, including myself. I never knew I would be using something like this, but I am so thankful that Notre Dame offers this fund for its employees.”

You can find more information about the campaign at unitedway.nd.edu or give directly to United Way of St. Joseph County here.