News
CCC Receives Anonymous $1 Million Donation to Fund Health Care Needs
November 19, 2018
Central Community College is pleased to announce a $1 million anonymous donation to meet the growing workforce demand for certified nursing assistants (CNA) and nurses.
The CNA program, housed at CCC’s Kearney Center, and its success will greatly affect the Kearney and surrounding communities in caring for an increasing elderly population in long-term and assisted-living facilities. The donation also comes at a critical time with the relocation of the Central Nebraska Veterans Home from Grand Island to Kearney next year.
“The nursing program at Central Community College is honored to be a part of this generous gift,” said Pamela Bales, associate dean of nursing. “At a time where the need for nurses continues to grow, this donation allows tremendous opportunities for individuals that may not have been able to achieve dreams of becoming a nurse. We look forward to educating nurses that have a passion with working with the elderly and a drive to improving management of care in the specialized field of gerontology.”
The $1 million gift will be allocated over five years and will fund a full-time CNA instructor and provide financial assistance for CNA and nursing students at the Kearney Center. The donation will also establish an endowed fund to award scholarships for students in nursing fields.
“We really appreciate the long-term vision and passion that the donor has for the nursing program,” said Dean Moors, executive director of the CCC Foundation. “The need for elderly care is going to be critical as the population in the Kearney area continues to grow. This is an exciting field for nurses to provide an ongoing service to individuals in an increased number of facilities.”
The Kearney Center began in 1958 as a practical nursing education program sponsored by Kearney Public Schools and later became part of Central Community College. In recent years, more than 90 percent of all CCC graduates stay in the 25-county service area and nearly 100 percent stay in Nebraska, which is an economical boost to the area and state.
“We are very pleased with the positive impact this gift will make in the Kearney area as it is seeing growing demands for nursing assistants and nurses in their local workforce,” said CCC President Dr. Matthew Gotschall. “The donors are visionary in their approach to ensuring high-quality elderly care is available well into the future, while also creating financial opportunities for students seeking those high-wage careers.”