Using Charitable Giving to Improve the Lives of Others
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” – Marian Wright Edelman. That is exactly what Frank Fagan of Joliet decided to do when he established the Janet Fagan Nursing Scholarship with the Silver Cross Foundation in 2020.
“Janet loved being a nurse and enjoyed spending time with patients,” Frank recalls about his wife, who passed away from cancer in 2003. Together, with his sons, he created the memorial scholarship to honor Janet and the work she did as a nurse at Silver Cross Hospital for 37 years.
Each year, the scholarship is awarded to two or more Silver Cross Hospital employees enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate level registered nursing program.
Mary Pierson, RN, was one of the first recipients to receive the memorial scholarship. She shared that the scholarship has helped relieve some of the financial tension that is associated with pursuing advanced education. “Receiving a scholarship that was established in memory of a nurse that worked at Silver Cross was so meaningful. It is so important for the future of nursing that we support and invest in each other to encourage lifelong learning and build collaborative relationships,” said Mary.
A continuing educational scholarship does so much more than provide financial support; it also provides emotional support.
“It is encouraging to know there is someone like Frank – not an anonymous donor – helping me, especially on the hard days,” shared Mary Pierson, RN, Manager for the Procedural Care Unit at Silver Cross Hospital, after meeting Frank during the annual luncheon when she was awarded the scholarship in 2021. “I want to make sure to put his money to good use.” Katie has used her $2,000 scholarship to continue the advancement of her career at Silver Cross since starting in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in 2013.
Scholarships can be created for numerous reasons – to create a legacy, celebrate a loved one’s memory, or simply to give back to your community. If you are thinking of establishing a scholarship fund, talk to your financial advisor to take advantage of any charitable giving tax benefits and consider the Silver Cross Foundation – just like Frank did.
When asked, “What do you think Janet would think about your generosity?” Frank laughed and said, “She’d probably say I should give more.” Frank uses his IRA-qualified charitable distribution to fund the scholarship. He likes that the funds are given out in full each year and not held in an endowment.
The Silver Cross Foundation provides annual scholarships to hospital employees and their children to help further their education and training in this ever-changing world of healthcare. In 2022, 45 individuals received more than $70,000 is educational scholarships from contributions.
To donate to or establish a new scholarship at Silver Cross Hospital, call the Silver Cross Foundation at (815) 300-7105 or complete the new scholarship donation form .
