Challenge Accepted: Mercy Medical Center’s Nurses Education Fund Secures $1 Million in Donations

Sister Mary Caritas, SP, and Harold Grinspoon.

SCENE funds are available to nurses to help them attain higher education and new certifications, and to other Mercy colleagues who want to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

The concept for the SCENE Fund was first introduced at the celebration marking the 100th birthday of Sister Mary Caritas, SP, former President of Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence congregation. Sister Caritas is also a member of the Mercy Nursing School Class of 1945. The original goal for the SCENE Fund was set at $100,000, the minimum required to establish an endowed fund at Mercy.

This fundraising generated more than 200 gifts, ranging from $5 to $275,000 from individuals, foundations and countless admirers and followers of Sister Caritas, including a $25,000 “challenge/match” gift from philanthropist, Harold Grinspoon and his foundation to help launch the fundraising effort. The initial challenge required Trinity Health and Mercy to raise $75,000 first, then Mr. Grinspoon would add the final $25,000 to formally establish the SCENE Fund. This challenge was swiftly met and upon the Grinspoon Foundation check presentation, Mr. Grinspoon issued another challenge to help permanently endow the SCENE Fund at $1 million; once Mercy and Trinity Health raised $900,000, the Grinspoon Foundation would add the final $100,000 to reach the $1 million goal.

Fueled with even more inspiration, the Mercy and Trinity Health Of New England fundraising team worked toward that goal and the $900,000 mark was recently reached. As a result, Mr. Grinspoon made good on his promise, gifting the final $100,000 in a celebratory check presentation at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation offices in Agawam. While every donor has been vital to this effort, larger gifts supporting the SCENE Fund include: an anonymous donor, bankESB, the Brindle Family, the estates of Homer Foucher and Monte Cohen, Dean Kavanagh, Dave and Pat Johnson, Kevin and Sandra Delbridge, John Sjoberg and Brenda Garton-Sjoberg, and Richard Dooley, former Mercy Board member and lifetime supporter.

The need for more qualified, talented, and dedicated nurses is an urgent priority for Mercy along with most other health care organizations. The recent gift from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, born out of a lifelong friendship between one of the most prominent Jewish philanthropists and most prominent Catholic leaders in our region, underscores the spirit of philanthropy that continues to bless the greater Springfield community.

Trinity Health Of New England and Mercy Medical Center will host donors to this historic fund at a celebration of the new Sister Caritas Endowed Nurses Education Fund at The Delaney House in Holyoke on April 23. Mercy’s leadership will partner with local colleges and universities offering nursing degrees, as well as make available scholarship dollars for professional development and advanced certification for current Mercy nurses, as well as any Mercy colleagues who may wish to pursue a nursing career.