Dunham Fund Uplifts Nurses in Aurora

Since 1996, the Dunham Fund was established by the late Aurora businessman and philanthropist John C. Dunham. The fund was launched to sustain individuals, non-profit or charitable groups reside in Aurora area. A medical education fund was allocated by Aurora-based Dunham Fund to boost local health care. This is an investment in nursing education and in the community as a whole. To be able to utilize the fund, the Aurora-based foundation is searching for more nursing students to complete their educations. Jodie Beverage, a single mother recently resigned from her manufacturing job to work as a nurse. With several degrees and with aid of the scholarship and other funding, Beverage is now the CI of Rush-Copley Medical Center OR.  The fund and a consortium of nine local groups had announced last week the amount of $750,000 for the scholarship program in 2 years. This will help help nurses enhance their education and use their skills in the Aurora area.

Beverage, a 42 year old woman said that she is an example of how desire and passion for the nursing profession was combined with opportunity and this will benefit the whole community. During the Dunham Fund announcement last Friday at Rush-Copley Medical Center, Beverage now had a master's degree in nursing education. The Dunham Nursing Scholarship started in January. The Advanced Nursing program in Aurora will allocate 121 scholarships for nursing students in Waubonsee Community College and Aurora University. The program agreement stated that nursing students will perform health care-related community service projects while in school. They’ll be required to work as a professional nurse in the Aurora area for at least two years after graduation.
 
According to Barbara Graham, Executive Director, Rush-Copley Foundation, the program was designed to expand nursing in the community in various different levels. It will also catch the attention of Aurora's best nurses. The 90 percent of the scholars’ tuition fee will be funded by Waubonsee and the 75 percent will be coming from Aurora University. Students had the option to be enrolled at either school. Applicant must have at least one year residency in Aurora-area before the submission of the application. Applications will be distributed by Oct. 1. The decision in the selection of scholars will be coming from a review committee which is consisted of representatives from each group. The health-care organizations who will participate are Alden of Waterford, Dreyer Medical Clinic, the Kane County Health Department, Provena Mercy Medical Center, Rush-Copley Foundation, Rush-Copley Medical Center and Visiting Nurses of the Fox Valley. [via]