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Materials & Supplies Fund for Students Created with Gifts from Alumni & Friends

Published November 3, 2021

 

Department of Interior Architecture & Design alumni and friends rallied together to raise over $6,000 in six weeks for the newly established Materials & Supplies Fund.

Through FSU’s crowdfunding platform SparkFSU, 32 individuals made gifts ranging from $25 to $1,200 to support the new fund. Donors included alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and the Department’s Advisory Council members.

Thanks to their generosity, the Department will create Starter Supply Kits for economically challenged first-year students to use in the 2022/2023 academic year. The kits contain 30 items necessary for the program, including mechanical pencils, templates, trace paper, a T-Square, and more.

Additional funding will continue to be needed, as the Department hopes to continue the Starter Kit Program into the future. To make a gift to the Materials & Supplies Fund in Interior Design, click here.

Creating a Level Academic Experience

Beginning college is an exciting time for new students – but it’s not without its struggles. The uncertainty of moving away, the rigors of academic programs, and taking out loans to pay for living expenses and supplies adds stress to what should be a smooth transition. For economically disadvantaged students, the struggle is worse. One student offered:

I had to be strict with my budget. I allocated $150 for food each month and sometimes had to choose materials over food.

Student Listening Sessions held by faculty in 2020/2021 revealed just how difficult participation in the program could be for those who could not always afford the necessary materials and supplies. Said one student,

It was difficult and embarrassing to present my project, produced on a limited budget, alongside a student colleague who did not have funding restrictions.

“Scholarships and financial aid can sometimes cover tuition and textbooks, but usually not supplies or materials,” said Department Chair Dr. Jill Pable. “Fulfilling this need – and leveling the academic experience – was of utmost importance to us.”

Additional funding will continue to be needed, as the Department hopes to continue the Starter Kit Program into the future. Help ensure future students’ success by making a gift to the Materials & Supplies Fund in Interior Design. The Department sincerely thanks you for your support of its future interior design practitioners!

To discuss your philanthropic interests at FSU or to learn how to accomplish your philanthropic goals through gifts of securities, retirement assets, life insurance and more, contact Director of Development Jessica Comas at jcomas@fsu.edu.