The Angel Fund: Saving a student's dream

Imagine that you are a typical, middle class family. You've always done the best for your children, sending them to top-notch private colleges, supporting their dreams and aspirations. And then, financial disaster strikes. You need help to ensure that your son or daughter can continue college and graduate.

While each family's circumstances are different, the following story recounts the situation of one Providence College family recently helped by The Angel Fund. Over a few years' time, the family's financial security was decimated by a sudden major illness, job loss, accumulated debt from college loans, and disappearing home equity. Traditional student loan sources were no longer there for them.

One father's words

"We would never have been able to make it this year without additional help from PC. My daughter wouldn't have been able to get her cap and gown, or even register for classes. It would have been impossible for her to graduate, and she loves the school.

"She has had such a great experience at Providence. Education is the most important thing and to deprive her of a great education at a great college would have been the worst thing I could do to her.

"We had good credit for over 20 years, and then, because of a number of circumstances, they wouldn't give us PLUS loans (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) anymore. Now I understand what other people are going through. You feel like a failure.

"There are so many other people who are in such dire straits, who have just lost their jobs. You think that it can't happen to you, that nothing really bad is going to happen. One little thing can happen that turns your life around completely.

Gratitude to staff, donors

"Right from my first letter to PC, they cared. The help we got from the financial aid office was not a routine thing - it was people going out of their way to make is possible for my daughter to stay in school and graduate.

"I am grateful to the College and to Angel Fund donors. You really care about all the PC families in need. I never let my kids know that I had to ask for so much help, but I did tell my daughter how much Providence College had helped her and made it possible for her to continue.