Author: Matt Schultz

New Collaboration Increases Access to Nursing Education for Mendocino and Lake County Residents

PUC Nurse

New Collaboration Increases Access to Nursing Education for Mendocino and Lake County Residents

August 1, 2023

FORT BRAGG, CA — Mendocino and Lake County residents now have a unique opportunity to pursue a world-class nursing education, thanks to a new collaboration between Pacific Union College (PUC), Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, and the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation).

PUC has reserved 18 seats in their incoming RN class specifically for local applicants, with no lottery system. Qualified employees from Adventist Health Mendocino Coast will be considered first for the openings, with any remaining slots opened to interested candidates from the Mendocino and Lake County regions. The board approved, hybrid nursing program is ideal for working adults looking to advance their career without sacrificing their current job or income.

Through its innovative RN Student Support Fund, MCHFoundation aims to offer generous financial assistance to each of the 18 accepted students to help offset the cost of travel, books, childcare, and other education-related expenses. To date, the fund has helped six nursing students afford to complete their degree—four of whom remained on the coast to begin their career after graduation.

“There is a critical need for these funds, especially for students from Mendocino and Lake County,” says Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director of MCHFoundation. “Tuition for nursing school is extremely costly, and when you factor in expenses like gas for the drive to campus and childcare during class time, it can be enough to make talented, qualified students reconsider.”

The cost to support the cohort of 18 students throughout the entirety of their program, which begins this September, is $650,000—or $50,000 per semester. MCHFoundation is seeking philanthropic partners to invest in this important collaboration and innovative solution to the nursing shortage on the Mendocino Coast. The goal is to secure the funding by August, so that students can receive the exciting news about their scholarship in acceptance letters.

The RN Student Support Fund is one component of MCHFoundation’s broader All In For Nurses initiative—which increases access to education, eliminates financial barriers, and recognizes the hard work and dedication of our local healthcare heroes.

“This collaboration is the first of its kind in the country, and an opportunity for our neighbors to step up for the men and women who are keeping our beloved coastal communities healthy and thriving,” says Mary Kate. “Years ago, when Mendocino College needed funding to complete its Physiology Lab—the space that would support a mandatory nursing pre-requisite course—our MCHFoundation donors helped to close the gap and make it happen. I am hopeful that together, we can do it again today for these 18 deserving future nurses.”

To make a gift to the RN Student Support Fund, or to learn more about how MCHFoundation is All In For Nurses, please reach out to Mary Tinder, Community Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or 707-961-4924.

About Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation Names 2023 INSPIRE Scholarship Awardees

2023 MCHF Impact Scholars

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation Names 2023 INSPIRE Scholarship Awardees

June 1, 2023

FORT BRAGG, CA— Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) is excited to announce six awardees of the third annual All In For Nurses INSPIRE Scholarships.

This unique scholarship addresses the caregiver shortage on the Mendocino Coast by supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals. Specifically, INSPIRE provides financial aid for coastal high school seniors pursuing college degrees dedicated to community health and wellness. The Scholarship Committee selects up to six students annually to receive $1,500 and up to two $20,000 INSPIRE+ awardees ($5,000 renewable installments over four years).

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, MCHFoundation has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 16 students to date. In addition to pursuing careers in the field of health care, student awardees have expressed an explicit desire to return to the coast and apply their education to advance the wellness of our community.

Meet the 2023 INSPIRE Scholarship Awardees:

Lilian Hall

INSPIRE Scholar

Inspired by her own personal experiences and those of her family, Lilian hopes to attend UC

San Diego to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology. Her clear sense of self and strong determination helped her overcome adversity throughout her life, and her goal is to become a clinical laboratory scientist to help “give patients answers that [she] didn’t receive and change lives for the better,” Lilian says.

Sonja Ivankay

INSPIRE Scholar

Sonja has always loved math and chemistry—in fact, she was recently named Student of the Year for chemistry. She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. It was a family friend who worked on a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic who helped cement her goal of working with a major pharmaceutical company to develop vaccines and other medicines.

Nicole Rossi

INSPIRE Scholar

Propelled by her observations of her community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicole plans to earn her bachelor’s degree at UC Davis to become a clinical laboratory scientist or virologist. “Humanity has come so far in medical research, but it still has a long way to go, and I hope to be part of that journey,” Nicole says.

Morgan Taylor

INSPIRE Scholar

Morgan hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering to advance medicine and help those with degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. She also hopes to contribute to the science of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for those with neural issues.

Kailee Thompson

INSPIRE Scholar

As an athlete herself, Kailee hopes to earn degrees in both psychology and kinesiology. Taking a holistic approach, she says, “I want to pursue a career where I am focusing not only on the physical health of athletes, but their mental health as well.”

Ryan Sutton

INSPIRE+ Scholar

Ryan has chosen to attend Hawaii Pacific University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). It offers nursing courses based in the local hospital, which will allow him to gain hands-on experience. Upon earning his BSN, he plans to return to Fort Bragg for work and pursue specialized training in oncology.

“Being able to become an RN will allow me to fulfill my dreams, spread kindness to patients, and help my local community,” Ryan says. “I have a passion to serve, to care, and to give without receiving anything in return. There is truly no other place I would rather work than Fort Bragg’s amazing healthcare family.”

To learn more about the INSPIRE Scholarship and other financial assistance provided to aspiring medical professionals by MCHFoundation’s All In For Nurses Initiative, please reach out to Mary Tinder, Community Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or 707-961-4924.

About Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation

Located in Fort Bragg, California, Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) provides a path for vital community investment through supporting the health and wellness of our Mendocino Coast communities.

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

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