NGH Emergency Employee Assistance Fund

Overview

The Employee Emergency Assistance Fund is made possible through the generous donations of Proper Brands, employees, vendors, and the public.  We are grateful to be able to provide financial support to Proper employees as they face difficult times in their lives.

The fund was established to help employees and their families as they navigate temporary financial hardships (defined below) that call for immediate action and an urgent need for assistance or relief.

Temporary financial hardship is one caused by a defined, time-limited, specific event, such as:

• Death of an immediate family member

• Natural Disaster

• Fire

• Serious Illness

• Critical injury

• Being the victim of a crime such as domestic violence, theft, or assault

• Other undue hardship not caused by the applicant (i.e. unaffordable childcare or elder care costs, theft, homelessness prevention, military deployment of spouse or domestic partner, etc.)

Examples of what may be covered by the fund if the need is precipitated by a qualifying event:

• Medical expenses not eligible for reimbursement by insurance

• Rent or mortgage payments, if due to injury, illness or unforeseen financial circumstance

• Essential utility bills (water, electricity, heat, etc)

• Basic living expenses (food, clothing)

• Adaptive modification to property (such as wheelchair ramp)

• Limited hotel accommodations

What will not be considered for support:

• Lost income due to cutback in hours or overtime, loss of a job, divorce, or loss of child support

• Accumulated financial distress

• Accidental damages due to negligence

• Incidents that occurred more than 90 days prior to the application date

• Wage garnishments/eviction notice

• Credit card, auto, and other debt – exception if the situation stems from a qualifying incident

• Legal fees

• Insurance deductibles and insured property losses

• Non-essential utilities (cable, phone, etc)

Criteria

Full-time Proper employees are eligible for a grant of up to $500 and part-time employees are eligible for up to $250 in assistance per calendar year. The fund is designed to offer one-time aid, so each employee is eligible for only one award per year.

• Applicant must be a current Proper employee.

• Been employed for a minimum of 90 days.

• The emergency or unplanned situation must have happened within the last ninety (90) days of application submission and after the date of hire

• Applicant must complete and submit the application below, including appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. Foreclosure/eviction notice, medical bills, past due utilities, police report, funeral expenses, or other related documentation). 

• Incomplete applications will NOT be considered for funding.

• Assistance is a grant; it does not have to be paid back to the fund. However, it is not a source of ongoing or regular support.

Process

• Complete the entire application and provide as much detail as you can regarding your circumstance. Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.

• Applications will be reviewed as soon as possible in the order that the NGH Employee Assistance Fund Committee receives them.

• Decisions will be at the sole discretion of the NGH Employee Assistance Fund Committee and there are no guarantees of approval or level of funding.

• Employees will be notified by the Committee of the decision as soon as possible.

• The limited funds will be distributed through the NGH Foundation, delivered in the form of a check to the vendor (ex: electric company or medical provider). Funds for food or clothing will be delivered in the form of a gift card.