Program Overview

The relief fund program is in place to help anyone who is an employee within the intercollegiate or professional athletic realms to reflect on temporary and emergent financial hardship situations due to unforeseen and/or catastrophic life events from COVID-19. These employees will be given access to review website materials and respond professionally in the form of a submission. 

 

Purpose of the Relief Fund 

To award funding for the employees who work or are affiliated with an athletic program, professional or intercollegiate that are experiencing temporary and emergent financial hardship situations due to unforeseen and/or catastrophic life events from COVID-19. Grant recipients will be selected solely on the basis of the eligibility requirements. Each grant applicant will be pre-screened for compliance with the eligibility and application requirements on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis by USG staff. 

 

Selection Process

Ten people will consist of the USG Relief Program Committee. The expectations for this group would be to give a “yes” or “no” from an approval or “Spot-Check” standpoint on the funding allocation that is decided upon after making selections. If an individual receives a 70% or above “yes” rate on relief funding allocation, that would result in that individual receiving the funding amount that was decided upon. If the individual doesn’t receive the 70% or above “yes” approval, then that individual would be re-evaluated by USG staff and re-submitted to the committee. If after a second review by the committee that individual still does not receive a 70% or above “yes” rate on relief fund allocation, then that individual's application will be rejected. If the individual is a student, we will prioritize those who lost their jobs and/or scholarships; If the individual is a full-time employee, we will prioritize those that were fired or have family or medical needs. For USG Relief Program Committee members, they must remove themselves from the decision making for any student or staff that is a connection to them. In the event that the USG Relief Program Committee is not available, the Directors of Development & Engagement will have the USG Board of Directors serve in place of the USG Relief Program Committee. The above process will still apply to selecting the relief fund recipients.

 

Relief Fund Awards

Funding will vary based on sponsorship participation and awards will be distributed in amount increments of $1,000, $1,500, $2,000. USG staff will vet requests that go above or beyond these predetermined increment amounts. 

 

Awarding of Funds

All pre-screened and approved applicants will then be submitted to the USG Relief Program Committee for review. Grants will be awarded on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis upon reviewing the application and ascertaining any additional facts and circumstances as necessary. Grants will be made in the form of check distributions to the recipient, or as determined by the USG Relief Program Committee based on the needs of the particular recipient. Each grant recipient will be required to sign an agreement that the funds will be utilized in an honest and beneficial manner. 

 

Terms and Conditions

By selecting this box you are agreeing and accepting these Terms and Conditions. All applicants are required to be a student or working within the field of sports in the United States of America. After the review of all applicants, winners will be selected and notified. Prizes will be monetary in nature. The total amount of the awarded funds is indicated through the Uncommon Sports Group website and through relief fund print material. Relief fund award funding will be sent to the individual  in the form of a check intended for education, personal, professional, or spiritual related expenses. USG reserves the right for winning applicants' names to be posted to the Uncommon Sports Group website and all/portions of their application may be posted to the website.