Dear Friend of Welch College,
With the Coronavirus pandemic, we are in a situation that is unparalleled in our nation’s history. Never before have we experienced shelter at home orders and the mass closure of many businesses, schools, and social gatherings. The revenue lost to our economy is in the trillions because of lay-offs, closures, and job losses. No one is sure how long it will take for us to recover.
Welch College, like most colleges and universities across the country, was forced to send students home to complete the semester online. Our students have been resilient and have praised our faculty and staff for their continued investment in them. Yet they’re eager to return to campus and engage in a traditional classroom learning environment.
We are looking forward to starting classes on campus in the fall. However, many students who want to be here fear they will not be able to attend. In fact, higher education analysts are predicting a significant decline in enrollment this year. Much of that decline will result from the lack of funds because of job losses in their families. Furthermore, the majority of our students depend on summer jobs to save money for their education, and those have not been available.
That’s why I’m writing this letter: to appeal to you to help these young people who want a Christ-centered education but cannot afford it because of this pandemic. We need your help for the many students who want to join us this fall but won’t be able to without it.
I don’t know how the pandemic has affected you financially. You may say, “Matt, I’m one of the ones out of work. I’d love to help, but I just can’t.” To you I say, “I understand.” Will you join me in daily prayer that God will move on the hearts of those who can help?
But you may be one whose job and income was not hurt by the crisis. I appeal to you to make a special gift that will directly impact students. We don’t want a single individual who hopes to be at Welch to be kept away because of the lack of funds. Your generosity will make the difference for them.
In my tenure as president, I have typically refrained from “crisis appeal” letters. Yet if there has ever been a crisis as it relates to our young people’s ability to be in school this fall, this is it. Will you respond? Students will begin making final decisions soon, and I want to be able to tell them that Welch’s supporters believe in them.
If you want to help, you can give at welch.edu/give or send a check to us at 1045 Bison Trail, Gallatin, TN 37066. Will you let us hear from you? The future of a student from your area may depend on it.
In Christ,
Matt Pinson
President