<p>Hey all! So the year is wrapping up, DD was looking forward to prom, playing senior tag, blowing off studying for AP tests, etc. What was supposed to be the best month looks different now to her and her bfs family. She got a call on Tues. from bf–his house burned to the ground! His family was only gone for about an hour and well…now the whole thing is ashes and paperwork. The site is absolutely nauseating to visit. The worst part …there is not much that can be done to help right now. They are staying with extended family …bf is pretty depressed, as he should be. Mentioned to me that he will likely take a gap year (he is graduating too) and save $ so that he would not have to burden his family. This kid is a wonderful young gentleman. He has amazing hs stats but is one of the many who got some money from his college for next year but not nearly enough. I was moved yesterday to call the university and explain his situation. To make a long story shorter–the university has been amazing…and they are working on getting some help for DDs bf. The folks at the university contacted fin aid, the engineering dept, scholarship folks and the university foundation. The whole thing was a MUCH needed bit of good news in what has been a very dark week. The family is from a small farming community and there will be nice local support. Anyway- keep the family in your prayers… thanks , momnipotent</p>
<p>momnipotent:</p>
<p>What a story! Wonderful of you to call the university on his behalf. I am glad that the university is coming through for the young man. He’ll be sure to make the most of his college years. But I feel for his family.</p>
<p>What a great gesture calling the school on the bf’s behalf. I’m sure the family will be very appreciative of your kindness. A bad situation would only be made worse for these parents if their S had to postpone his education. </p>
<p>My S-I-L went through a similar experience several years ago and although things seemed very bleak at the time, they were able to make it with the help of family and friends and reach a happy ending. A great support system will be very important, they are lucky to have you in their corner. I will keep this family in my prayers.</p>
<p>momnipotent.
The bf sounds like a lovely, thoughtful young man to think about sparing his family the extra expense. And what a wonderful, thoughtful idea for you to call the University on his behalf. Here’s hoping that they come through “big time” for him and his family!</p>
<p>momnipotent I’m so glad you called the school— you’re not called momnipotent for nothing 
I hope they continue to give him support - he sounds like a great kid. I’ll keep the family in my thoughts.
andi</p>
<p>Thanks to all- just got a call from the Dean of Engineering and I finally put them in touch with the parents. The folks at the university have been just amazing. I will keep you posted on the outcome. Meanwhile- we should all have a CC collective inventory of blessings!</p>
<p>So very nice of you to do what you did! </p>
<p>All the very best to this young man and his family. It’s very heartwarming when the university stands up like this.</p>
<p>It is heartwarming to read this; that was so nice of you to make the call.</p>
<p>momnipotent~</p>
<p>Oh no! OMG, my heart goes out to your D’s bf’s family! How utterly devastating…I cannot even FATHOM losing everything like that. Thank goodness it looks like the community will be so supportive of the family, and kudos to you, too, for taking such a thoughtful and crucial step on behalf of his family. Though nothing can make up for all that has been so cruelly taken, these positive moves are certainly a step in the right direction. Sending healing thoughts and {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} to all involved. ~berurah</p>
<p>momnipotent–who did you call at the university? Admissions? Fin aid? Just curious (don’t worry, not planning on torching our homestead).</p>
<p>Wow, what a wonderful thing for you to call like that. If you don’t mind sharing, which university is it? They deserve props for responding so quickly and compassionately!</p>
<p>momnipotent…not exactly the Senior month of May one anticipates…wow. You are so good to immediately see about this young man’s needs. I know if I was his parents, I would be so grateful that someone was thinking ahead for him. We can’t let him do a George Bailey if there is a way to get on with his college education. Or maybe we can meet some of the George Baileys of the world who manage the financial resources of the university in question and who want to see a young man get to college without being worried to death over his parents’ welfare.<br>
keep us posted now</p>
<p>Momnipotent,</p>
<p>You have done such an amazing thing for this young man and his family.It is so great to know that the college is stepping up to rally around him to make is education possible. what a testament to their commitment to their students.</p>
<p>Hate sounding like a metaphor, but it is good to know that the university is like a phoenix rising from the ashes.</p>
<p>Ummmm… Didn’t they have insurance? Most people are pretty well covered for a fire; generally the Ins. Co’s don’t try to weasel out of reponsibility like they do for, well, just about anything else. Usually people have coverage for interim housing, rebuilding, and replacement of lost items.</p>
<p>Kluge- yes they had insurance. The immediate aftermath however is devastating. And frankly, they are looking at many, many months before things settle down. Things that were in the house can never be replaced by “insurance.” BFs sister is to be married in a few months, her dress was lost, etc. I can’t really put into words what the scene is like, they lived in the home for 30 years. And though I have never had to settle with insurance secondary to devastation from a fire, I doubt that they will come out ahead. And from what I know of (which is likely a fraction) there were 4 kids lifetimes worth of memories and artifacts in the house that are now gone.</p>
<p>I am reluctant to reveal the university. I spoke with a lady in the office of scholarships. I knew the young man was a finalist for one of their big awards (which he did not win) and was simply going to suggest to the committee that if anyone declined $$ in the next few days that it would be nice to move the young man up on the list because he was considering not going to school because he felt he might be needed at home and that money would definitely be an issue for the family.</p>
<p>The person I spoke with was moved by the story. She said that the timing of my call was amazing because the “University Foundation”- separate from fin.aid or scholarship, had just called her that a.m. and wanted to know if she knew of any hardship cases because they had $ set aside for a student. Beautiful coincidence. Then she called the school of engineering (the Dean called me this a.m.) and they really want this kid because he is a top prospect, and they are also willing to help out. I believe that he needs and deserves the help…and I am thankful to the Univ. for their sympathy and support.</p>
<p>momnipotent,</p>
<p>I am so sorry to hear about this incredible loss. I will keep this family, and his university, in my thoughts and prayers. It is wonderful to see how people do come together when tragedy strikes! You are a very special friend. Love it when the timing seems so intended!</p>
<p>Well, yeah, but… Lifetimes worth of memories don’t really have a lot to do with a student’s ability to go to college, do they? I know this is a “feel good” story but I’m really unclear why this student would need financial aid from his college because of a fire which is covered by insurance. Yes, they’re upset. But a lot of students have things happen which upset them in the year before they leave for college, and they just go anyway. Maybe after they’ve all had some time to take stock they’ll realize it’s time to move on, and it’s just another one of those bumps in the road.</p>
<p>Feel good story??? Talk about watering down a situation. I disagree with your attitude/ideas on the exacting level that you disagree that this young genleman might just need some help. To each his own.</p>
<p>Kluge; It is not a matter of the student being upset, as you put it. And for the family, it is more than just a “bump in the road.”<br>
I doubt that the insurance will cover all the costs of replacing what was lost or the temporary accommodations, or that it will offer compensation in good time. The student may not be able to even undertake the summer work he’d planned to do if there was major disruption. Important documents may have been totally destroyed/lost. It will take the family a lot of work to replace them.</p>
<p>The student was already on financial aid, but his family was expected to contribute as well. In these new circumstances, it would be unrealistic to expect the family, whose finances are being strained by the total loss of their house, to do so. The student was considering not attending university in order to help his family out. The university is giving him more, obviously realizing that his family has suffered a major loss, not just emotionally but also financially.
So now he can attend university; while he won’t be helping his family recover from their losses, at least he knows he won’t be a drain on their depleted resources.</p>