Restore Hope
If you’ve already made a gift to support CSUCI’s Hot Meals and Basic Needs initiative, thank you! If you haven’t had a chance yet, there’s still time to help.
“I’m the first in my family to go to college. CSU Channel Islands provided a support system that helped me succeed and think even bigger about my future. From hot meals when I was hungry to the opportunity to do research with the National Science Foundation, I’ve been empowered to be my best self. I’m so grateful for the support of these programs. You help us succeed and motivate others.”
- Korenna Estes, Biology major, STEM outreach assistant and Science Carnival lead, undergraduate research assistant
A first-generation student working her way through CSUCI, Korenna Estes often had to skip meals to make ends meet. Her biggest concern is knowing other students are in need of food. “It's extremely difficult to navigate and accomplish your studies when you haven't eaten,” she says. “Hunger can take away your focus.”
Thanks to CSUCI’s Hot Meals program, Korenna can focus on learning, excelling and helping others do the same. A senior Biology major, she researches neural circuits and sensory behavior, leads STEM outreach activities for kids in the community, served as a peer mentor, and has traveled to the Arctic for an NSF-funded study of climate change impact on plankton populations. Next year, she plans to head to graduate school.
34% of CSUCI students face food insecurity. With a donation of $10, you can provide a hot meal for a student like Korenna. Last year, student and alumni gifts provided over 660 hot meals for students in need.
We still need your support. Make a gift the Hot Meals and Basic Needs Program – or any area of CSUCI that means the most to you. We need your support for scholarships, internships, peer mentoring programs, research opportunities, and continuing to grow our campus.
When Dolphins help Dolphins, great things happen. Your gifts change lives, families, and communities for the better. Alumni like you are the reason that CSUCI was recently named the “ninth most transformative college in the nation” by Money magazine for its success in helping students improve their lives and livelihoods.
Continue the CSUCI tradition of caring and sharing.
Channel Your Connections and encourage students through Giving
- A gift of $10 can provide a hot meal for a student in need.
- A gift of any amount can help support a student in emergency housing or financial hardship.
Learn more about CSUCI’s Basic Needs and Emergency Intervention program at www.csuci.edu/basicneeds/.