Elmhurst College raises $103,000 for Bluejay Nest Fund

As part of a global day of giving this month, Elmhurst College alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students raised more than $103,000 for the Bluejay Nest Fund, the college's student emergency fund.

The GivingTuesdayNow event was held May 5 as an emergency response to the need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to spark an increase in grass-roots generosity across the world.

Elmhurst College joined that effort with gifts to the Bluejay Nest Fund, which supports students facing urgent and unexpected needs that may arise during the school year. It provides assistance with basic necessities, such as food and housing, technology and equipment needed for remote learning, health care, emergency travel and other unforeseen needs.

More than 200 donors provided gifts to the fund during GivingTuesdayNow. Donors stepped forward throughout the event to offer a total of $45,000 in matching challenges, including Elmhurst College Trustee Virginia Prochaska '88, the Alumni Association board of directors, and two anonymous donors.