The Buchanan Employee Assistance Fund

Buchanan is committed to the well-being of its employees and their families, particularly during life’s most challenging moments. The Buchanan Employee Assistance Fund (the “Fund”) was established to help Buchanan employees through financial hardships caused by unexpected events or situations beyond their control by distributing tax-exempt grants. The Fund is supported by tax-deductible charitable contributions made by Buchanan and/or employees interested in supporting the Buchanan community.

Please review the questions below. If you respond yes to all six of the following criteria, we encourage you to proceed with the application process.

Can I answer yes to the questions below? 

1. I am a: 

  • · Full-time employees (defined as those who work a minimum of 32 hours per week)

  • · Certain part-time employees (those who work at least 20 hours each week) or employees who work less than 20 hours per week but who have been an employee of Buchanan for a minimum of ten consecutive years. You must have been working for Buchanan during the related event or situation.

For both employee groups, the following criteria must be met:

  • · Have been employed on the date of the application and remain employed at the time of award, whether or not they have contributed to the fund.
  • · Have worked at Buchanan for at least one year.
  • · Have been employed on the date of the application and remain employed at the time of award, whether or not they have contributed to the fund.
  • · Have worked at Buchanan for at least one year.

2. Has the event occurred within 90 days of your application? 

3. Is this my first time applying for a grant, or has it been six months since I last received it? 

4. Is the event for which I’m requesting a grant listed below? 

  • · QUALIFIED DISASTER: These events include state or federally-declared disasters, disasters resulting from common carrier accidents, and disasters that result from a terroristic or military action.

  • · DEATH OF AN EMPLOYEE OR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER: This includes the death of the employee, spouse, or eligible dependent(s). The loss of income or the cost of funeral expenses or medical bills must significantly impact the family’s resources. The Fund may also be able to pay expenses to bring a child whose parents have died to live with a new family, typically a relative.

  • · NATURAL DISASTERS: Situations such as a wildfire, flood, tornado, hurricane, severe storms, or earthquake that have damaged or destroyed the employee’s primary residence. The Fund cannot pay to repair other property or replace non-essential items, e.g., electronics, etc. Photographs and/or insurance reports may be required.

  • · SERIOUS ILLNESS OR INJURY OR NON-ROUTINE/EXCEPTIONAL EXPENSE: The Fund is not a substitute for medical insurance; employees do not automatically qualify for a grant when they, or their dependents, are diagnosed with or suffer a life-threatening or serious illness or injury. A resulting financial need must place significant pressure on the family’s financial resources. Doctor confirmation and/or medical documentation will be required.

  • · DOMESTIC ABUSE: This is a situation that causes the employee and other victims to leave an unsafe residence.

  • · IMPACTS PRIMARY RESIDENCE: This includes but is not limited to fire, major home damage that could not be prevented, a serious crime against the employee (robbery, arson, assault, domestic abuse, or another reportable crime) that significantly impacts the family’s resources. Police, fire, or other official incident report may be required.

  • · VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME: This includes a serious crime against the employee (robbery, arson, assault, or other reportable crime) that significantly impacts the family’s resources.

  • · MILITARY DEPLOYMENT: In the time of a natural disaster or national emergency, the employee, spouse, or domestic partner is unexpectedly or unavoidably called to active duty from the military reserves or National Guard.

5. Is the hardship you are facing listed below?  

  • > Food, Clothing, and Housing: Immediate needs only, applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the event. For rent temporary housing for up to 30 days
  • > Rent/Mortgage: Housing-Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
  • > Reasonable repairs to damaged property
  • > Essential appliances and furnishings
  • > Utilities: essential utility expenses (gas, water, and electricity)
  • > Security Deposits: For new housing if unable to inhabit the existing home
  • > Reasonable Evacuation expenses
  • > Reasonable funeral, travel, and burial expenses
  • > Car repairs other than routine maintenance or repairs that could not have been reasonably avoided
  • > Cost of rental car or public transportation for up to 30 days
  • > Expenses resulting from flight from domestic violence, such as temporary housing
  • > Unable to work due to the event
  • > Unexpected childcare for up to 60 days.

6. If you have not received a grant already this year, is the grant amount you are requesting between $500 and $5,000?

Important Information When Applying:

  • · Grants can be made for the employee, the employee’s spouse, minor children, and other dependents for whom the employee is financially responsible as an eligible dependent.
  • · An employee cannot apply for assistance if their need is based on the same event as previously awarded.
  • · The situation that caused the financial hardship must have occurred during the employee’s employment with Buchanan, and the employee must submit a grant application within three months of the event.
  • · Meet the financial need requirements.
  • · Have experienced a recent, unexpected, unavoidable event that caused a financial crisis.
  • · Violating guidelines, including falsifying documentation, may lead to disciplinary action, including termination.

*Please Note: The Fund has limited resources and will make grants to applicants only while sufficient funds remain in the Fund.  Grants to applicants are discretionary and will be processed in the order in which they are received based on the date and time stamp of when emails are received, when mailed applications are physically received, or when phone applications are placed.  Once the Fund is exhausted, no further grants will be made to applicants from the Fund.  Therefore, even where an applicant may otherwise be eligible to receive a grant from the Fund, there is no guarantee that such a grant will be made, and no such grant will be made when the Fund is fully depleted.