Owensboro Health Foundation and the Grayson County Healthcare Foundation have recently collaborated to create a special fund for Grayson County students enrolled in healthcare workforce-related education programs.
The Grayson County Healthcare Foundation has granted an initial award of $10,000 to Owensboro Health Foundation to create a fund modeled after Owensboro Health’s “HOPE” Fund (Helping Our People in Emergencies). This fund will be reserved for students from Grayson County who are pursuing education in a healthcare-related field in a track connected with Healthforce Kentucky and any one of the partnering colleges and universities.
“The Grayson County Healthcare Foundation is proud to support the community’s future healthcare workers through the Grayson County HOPE Fund,” shared Trevor Ray, Grayson County Healthcare Foundation, Board of Directors Chair. “The Grayson County Healthcare Foundation aims to support initiatives that improve the health of Grayson County residents, including assuring access to care.”
Healthforce Kentucky, previously known as the Commonwealth West Healthcare Workforce Innovation Center, is a collaboratively driven non-profit organization that exists to help accelerate the education of future members of the healthcare workforce in the western Kentucky region by removing barriers, facilitating cooperation among colleges and universities, and offering hands-on experiential learning opportunities to students. The project is a partnership between Owensboro Health and nine Kentucky colleges and universities.
The partnering educational institutions have reported a need for financial assistance to:
- Help students overcome the everyday life needs and issues that are often barriers that delay or halt their educational pursuits
- Help students travel to the Owensboro-based simulation teaching and learning center
- Support the attire needs, scrubs and appropriate footwear for students who will be working hands-on in local healthcare settings as part of their coursework
- Address licensure and certification expenses
- Meet other needs related to sustaining and completing their healthcare-related educational pursuits
The initial gift will fund the pilot year to determine the need, identify common barriers students face, and develop a strategic development plan to ensure the effort is fully funded for years to come.
Students can seek assistance through dedicated staff working at Healthforce Kentucky and are eligible to receive assistance in the amount of up to $1,250 per semester.
The Grayson County “HOPE” Fund for students will be the first of its kind and will serve as a model for other communities to support students.
“All too often, students are faced with obstacles and barriers to obtaining their educational pursuits,” Tracy Naylor, Director of Owensboro Health Foundation, said. “It isn’t always the big things that stand in the way, but things like a flat tire or an unexpected expense that can completely derail them from what they are working towards. The HOPE fund is in place to help students overcome those barriers, keep moving forward, and achieve their goal of working in a healthcare related field.”
If you would like to support students in your community, email Owensboro Health Foundation at Found@OwensboroHealth.org.
Submitted by Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center
