The University of Vermont Medical Center and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences received a $175,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation to strengthen the nursing profession and support construction of a new inpatient bed facility.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences will receive $75,000 to match a grant from the AARP/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's "Future for Nursing: Campaign for Action," a national initiative to guide implementation of the recommednations in a landmark Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. These funds will help spur an increase in the number of nurses who pursue baccalaureate degrees in Vermont, implement a program to educate nurse practitioners about establishing their own practices, and increase educational opportunities for New Americans interested in nursing and health careers.
“This funding will make a real impact on our ability to provide the well-trained nurses and other health professionals that the people of our region need,” said Patty Prelock, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “The KeyBank Foundation deserves great credit for understanding that educational programs need to adjust to new realities in this ever-changing health care environment.”
The remaining $100,000 donated by the KeyBank Foundation will help fund the UVM Medical Center’s planned 128-bed inpatient facility which is designed to increase the number of single patient rooms from 30 to 90 percent. Private rooms have been shown to enhance quality of care, improve the healing environment and provide more room for families, all of which aligns with the Medical Center’s focus on providing patient- and family-centered care.
“More and more, health care organizations are relying on private donations to support needed advancements,” said Eileen Whalen, president and chief operating officer of the UVM Medical Center. “That’s why we’re especially grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for such a generous donation which will support meaningful improvements that touch on our dual missions of education and patient care.”
The KeyBank Foundation, a 46-year-old nonprofit charitable foundation funded by KeyCorp, has given approximately $18 million each of the past eight years to nonprofit organizations across the nation, in the form of philanthropy, corporate contributions, and volunteerism. It makes philanthropic investments in organizations and programs that build thriving communities. The foundation’s funding priorities are fostering thriving students, through grants to academic programs, and fostering a thriving workforce, through grants made to workforce development and job creation programs.
“KeyBank has been a proud partner of University of Vermont Medical Center for more than 50 years, and we’re pleased to continue our support with these major gifts to the 'Future of Nursing: State Implementation Program' and the planned single-bed facility,” said Don Baker, market president of KeyBank in Vermont. “Supporting nurses with opportunities to advance their careers is a particularly important priority for us. As a company that is committed to helping our communities thrive, we’re excited to make these investments in improving patient care for all of our friends and neighbors in Vermont,” he added.