Harvard Service Fund

Community Fund

In normal years the Harvard undergraduate spends over half of his time as a member of the College community, in wartime he spends all but a few weeks of the year in Cambridge. In the belief that the student is an integral part of the community in which he lives the Harvard Service Fund will allot part of its funds this year to the Greater Boston Community Fund.

The Community Fund was one of the earliest of such drives to be established in any American city. The money collected is divided among all philanthropic activities of the community except thise which have direct religious affiliations. Beneficiaries include all the hospitals of the area, as well as Boys Clubs, the YMCA, and since the beginning of the war, the USO.

Not for Red Cross

In the past a considerable proportion of the money collected in the annual drive has been given to the Red Cross, but this year the Red Cross will not be included since their yearly drive usually provides for their needs. The Salvation Army is also outside of the scope of the Community Fund.

Although Harvard's contribution this year will be made through the agency of the Harvard Service Fund, there will be a separate drive to bring in the Faculty and employees. Headquarters for this December drive among the 2500 members of the Faculty will be Grays 37-38, while the employees of the University will contribute through their unions.

Main student objection to the demands of the Community Fund in the past has been that a student is directly responsible to the community in which his home is situated, land not to Greater Boston. In drawing up their budget, however, the heads of the Harvard Service Fund have maintained that the Harvard undergraduate is an integral part of the community, and that he cannot accept its police and fire protection, or hospital care if he is not willing to help shoulder the burden of its charities.

Council Scholarships

Another large item on the budget of the Harvard Service Drive is the Student Council Scholarships. Annually these amount to a total of about $27,000. This does not, however, represent a few large scholarships, but rather a great number of small grants which are aimed at tiding the student over sudden crises in his finances.

The distinguishing feature of these Council Scholarships are the conditions under which they are given. The basis for selection is not high scholastic ability but the particular need of a student whose College life may be threatened by an unforeseen financial exists.