Wescom Fund for UCLA Launches: Extending Support for UCLA Community, Building Better Lives for Bruins

Wescom has long been an Official Banking Partner of a number of UCLA entities, and now, the Credit Union in conjunction with their philanthropic arm, The Wescom Foundation, has launched the Wescom Fund for UCLA to continue building better lives for Bruins. The fund’s goal is to remove barriers that impede UCLA student success by helping to create opportunities for students to thrive and by giving them the tools to graduate. The fund will also empower UCLA staff, to help them better manage the challenges they face in the dynamic campus environment, and to help foster a sense of belonging. 

Wescom Credit Union's 5-year pledge (2023-2027) to the Wescom Fund for UCLA totals $425,000, with $85,000 in annual grants to help Bruins build better lives. Wescom's annual commitment includes:

• $30,000 to the UCLA Campus Life and Recreation department
• $5,000 to support philanthropic sponsorships
• $50,000 to support UCLA Alumni Diversity Network scholarships

The Wescom Fund for UCLA is aimed at inspiring people and fostering a sense of inclusivity, and resources will be directed to two main areas to support students and staff: 

1. Basic Needs

• Access to transportation to the UCLA Campus
  • UCLA students who are seeking to make ends meet may not have access to on-campus housing accommodations. Therefore, they seek on-campus parking permits that tend to be costly. The Wescom Fund for UCLA will support the UCLA Commuter Grant Initiative which helps UCLA students get to campus. The Wescom Fund for UCLA will also help provide meals and nutrition to those students who cannot go home between classes.

• Supporting parenting UCLA students
  • UCLA students who are parents often need to balance attending class and finding childcare. The Wescom Fund for UCLA will help support programs which provide access to no-cost summer camps for these students.
• Leadership travel grantmaking
  • UCLA students are often recognized for their knowledge they gain through their education at UCLA and are invited to conferences around the country and the world. However, there are some UCLA students who cannot afford travel costs in addition to their tuition. The Wescom Fund for UCLA will support programs which issue small grants to UCLA students to allow them to travel to help further develop their leadership and professional skills.

 

1. Disaster Relief & Preparation

• UCLA students and staff often experience unexpected situations during their Bruin journey. The Wescom Fund for UCLA will support programs on campus that help students who experience unexpected challenges so they can focus on their collegiate aspirations.

In addition, Wescom is the Presenting Sponsor of the Charles E. Young Humanitarian Awards which honors the late, long-serving UCLA Chancellor. As part of this awards sponsorship, the Credit Union launched the Wescom Community Award which provides $750 to a UCLA Student Organization with focus areas aligned with those of the Wescom Foundation: Critical Human Needs, Disaster Response, and Financial Wellness.
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Wescom also recently opened its 25th branch on November 17th. The branch, which will serve the broader West-Los Angeles community, is located on the ground floor of a new mixed-use, UCLA Housing building complex at 11776 Santa Monica Blvd. This new branch is in addition to the full-service branch located on the UCLA campus in the Ackerman Student Union building. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the Wescom Fund for UCLA, or any of the many ways in which Wescom supports the Bruin community, please let me know and I’m happy to coordinate a briefing between you and Ashley White, Senior VP, Chief Marketing Officer. You can also learn more here: https://www.wescom.org/UCLA/Bruin-Community 

Wescom is committed to paying it forward and helping Bruins reach their full potential. ​

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