Natural disasters are defined by Phi Mu Foundation as:

• Sudden and terrible events in nature (such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood) that result in serious damage.

Medical events are defined by Phi Mu Foundation as:

• Critical illnesses (such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ transplant, coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty, kidney failure, loss of hearing, loss of vision, loss of speech, paralysis, coma, etc.), terminal illnesses (a disease or condition that cannot be cured) or a life-threatening accident.
• The medical event must impact the member, the member’s spouse or the member’s dependent child. The committee will consider the member’s parents or legal guardian if the applicant is a dependent or if the applicant is the sole caretaker of the parent(s).
• All medical events must be verified in writing by a medical provider.

Other dire circumstances are defined by Phi Mu Foundation as:

• Circumstances that are life-threatening (seriously dangerous and could result in death)
• Circumstances that cause the member to have monthly expenses for basic necessities only (food, clothing, shelter, transportation, utilities, and/or medical care) that exceed the member’s monthly income.
• For an application to be considered under other dire circumstances, the member must be employed or actively seeking work, collecting unemployment, disability or social security. The member must have also exhausted all other financial assistance options (insurance, family loans, personal bank loans, etc.).

Educational expenses are defined by Phi Mu Foundation as:

• Tuition and fees required for the enrollment or attendance at an educational institution, as well as books, supplies and equipment required for the course of study at the educational institution.

Examples of situations that are not eligible for grants from the Betty Nell Wilkinson Emergency Fund:

• Elective medical procedures
• Personal or family conflicts
• Legal expenses
• Voluntary unemployment