Otterbein has been humbled by the outpouring of support for our students since the pandemic began earlier this year. The effort to assist students was named “Cardinals Care” and donors to date have given more than $70,000 to help students with multiple areas including:
- Student Emergency Fund to provide funding to Otterbein students who were challenged to afford housing, transportation, basic needs, and required resources for learning as a result of protective measures resulting from COVID-19.
- Promise House to help combat food and resource insecurity for students.
- Textbook Affordability to provide copies of textbooks from the library that can be reserved by Otterbein students who are challenged to afford textbooks.
- Counseling Center to help ensure that any student who needs extra guidance from Otterbein counselors during this time has easy access to it.
- Areas of Greatest Need to help Otterbein adapt operations to best serve students during COVID-19.
In August, Darrell Miller ’79 and his Columbus-based water treatment company, Aqua Science Inc., donated 600 gallons of hand sanitizer to keep Otterbein students healthy and safe as they returned to campus. In-kind donations of critically important supplies make a tremendous difference for our ability to serve students and we are so grateful for Miller and his company’s generosity.
600 gallons of hand sanitizer was donated by Columbus-based water treatment company, Aqua Science Inc., owned by Darrell Miller ’79.
A number of alumni have helped Otterbein with unexpected expenses over the past few months to directly support the student experience while on campus, including Bill Cole ’52 for COVID and outdoor enhancements; Gwen Swigart Nichols ’93 and Nichols and Co. LLC for student programming and games; and Robert Woodruff ’67, Curt Moore ’64 and several nursing alumni for providing funding for flu shots.
The Nigel Chatman Student Emergency Fund has been established to help students with emergency needs such as food, toiletries, books, utilities, car repairs and more. The fund honors Chatman, a sophomore at Otterbein, who died in a car accident in September 2019, en route to football practice.
To support the fund, visit www.otterbein.edu/give and in the “Designation” line, please enter: Other, “Nigel Chatman Fund.”
Otterbein is grateful for the support of Coral Harris, who generously donated funds for enhancements at the Otterbein Community Garden. Harris also helped purchase tents for the campus community, so students could hold classes and outdoor activities while being socially distanced.
