David Kaun and Abigail Kaun Grounds Crews Recognition Fund

Due to the generosity of donors David Kaun and Abigail Kaun, The David Kaun and Abigail Kaun Grounds Crews Recognition Fund has been established to honor Grounds Services staff who, along with a significant assist from nature, have worked to keep all who enter our campus immersed in awe-inspiring beauty. This generous gift has allowed Grounds Services to establish an endowment that will offer a minimum of two types of annual awards:

1) The Kaun Grounds Crews Recognition Award

• Eligibility:
  • Students and temporary staff (including limited) are excluded
  • Staff member must be:
    • UCSC Grounds Services Career
    • Post probation as of March 1st of the current year
      
    • In a non-supervisory role
    • Represented by a union
    • In good standing (latest performance appraisal “Met Expectations” or above with no pending disciplinary actions)
• Criteria:
  • This award is limited to $1,000. (Note: Award amount is dependent on the annual endowment payout amount.)
    
  • Staff members may not receive this award more than once unless all other eligible staff members have received the award.
  • Priority will be given to staff with 10 or more years of service.
  • The Recipient agrees to attend a small recognition event to meet the donors.
  • Recipients agree their name may be used in UC Santa Cruz communications about the award.

2) The Kaun Grounds Crews Family Support Award

• Eligibility:
  • Students and temporary staff (including limited) are excluded
  • Staff member must be:
  • UCSC Grounds Services Career
  • Post probation as of March 1st of the current year
  • In a non-supervisory role
  • Represented by a union
  • In good standing (latest performance appraisal “Met Expectations” or above with no pending disciplinary actions)
• Criteria:
  • This award is limited to $3,000. (Note: Award amount is dependent on the annual endowment payout amount.)
    
  • Primary criteria is a personal need or family emergency, determined at the discretion of the committee, including but not limited to medical expenses, home repairs, or vehicle repairs, which would be eased by the funds.
  • The recipient can elect to remain anonymous and their name will not be announced or shared outside of the committee.

3) The Kaun Grounds Crews Family Education Award

• Eligibility:
  • Students and temporary staff (including limited) are excluded
  • Staff member must be:
  • UCSC Grounds Services Career
  • Post probation as of March 1st of the current year
  • In a non-supervisory role
  • Represented by a union
  • In good standing (latest performance appraisal “Met Expectations” or above with no pending disciplinary actions)
  • Dependents and spouses of the above qualified staff members are eligible for nomination.
• Criteria:
  • This award would be limited to $3,000. (Note: Award amount is dependent on the annual endowment payout amount.)
    
  • If, in any given year, there are funds remaining in the Family Support award, the secondary use is an award to support a staff member, or that staff member’s dependent, in advancement of their education at an institution deemed merit-worthy by the committee.  The support may include tuition, fees, books, school supplies, room and board if attending away from home, and other expenses related to advancing education.
  • There may be more than one recipient if funds are available.
  • Recipient agrees to attend a small recognition event to meet the donors.
  • Recipients agree their name may be used in UC Santa Cruz communications about the award.