Help our community in times of crisis.

In the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, the Vincentian Assistance Fund (VAF) was established by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentian Priests and Brothers) to provide short-term, emergency financial support to members of the DePaul community, including faculty and staff. This expression of Vincentian personalism honors the dignity of our DePaul community members who find themselves in times of crisis, and we hope it reminds them that they have a whole DePaul community around them that they can look to for support. Recipients of the VAF are not required to pay back what they receive, but they are asked to find a small way in which to “pay it forward” by doing something kind or charitable for others. Since 1986, the VAF has provided more than $550,000 in emergency assistance to over 800 members of the DePaul community.

Here are just a few examples of how the VAF has helped our community this year alone:

• A member of the faculty, who had multiple family members impacted by COVID-19, was unable to pay the medical bills for their treatment. The VAF was there to help pay those treatment costs.
• A staff member’s spouse suffered a job loss, and the VAF helped the family, which includes three children, pay for rent and utilities. 
• Multiple international students, trapped in the U.S. due to pandemic-related travel restrictions and with limited employment options due to their status, received assistance with rent, utilities, and food.

Please consider making a gift to this critical fund, which provides a lifeline to those who work and study at DePaul when they are in greatest need. Thank you for your support of this vital resource.

Want to learn more about the exciting things happening at DePaul? View all the open crowdfunding projects on the InspireDePaul home page by clicking here!