Clinical Scholarship Fund
A Special Message from President and CEO G. Mark O'Bryant
GIVE NOW TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS
Dear friends of TMH,
One of my greatest joys as CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is seeing the extraordinary level of care and compassion our colleagues provide to patients every day.
I want to tell you about one of our colleagues, Renee Benson, an LPN in the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center. We have over 5,500 colleagues, and Renee is one of the best. She’s a hard worker, dependable and kind. Renee’s patients love her, and many of them stop by to visit her long after they’ve been discharged.
For 35 years, Renee’s dream has been to earn a bachelor’s degree and become an RN. She’s made strides toward her goal, but it’s been very difficult. She’s had to take out student loans and juggle classes while working full time and raising FIVE children.
Renee recently took a step closer to realizing her dream, thanks to the generosity of a grateful patient. I am sharing Renee’s story because it’s truly special. I hope it warms your heart as much as it did mine and inspires you to support scholarships for healthcare heroes like Renee.
Renee’s Kindness Promotes Healing
Earlier this year, Renee took a few minutes to stop and chat with a patient, an older gentleman who was recovering from hip surgery at the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center. She noticed that he was lonely and missing the comforts of home.
The patient mentioned that he had a bird feeder and how much joy it brought him to watch the finches and chickadees in his back yard. Renee took that conversation to heart and did something incredibly thoughtful. She arranged to have a bird feeder placed in the tree outside the patient’s window. She purchased bird seed and made sure he could see the feeder from his bed.
Renee’s actions encouraged her patient’s spirit and aided in his recovery. If you asked Renee, she’d say she was just doing her job, but her kindness made a huge difference. She is a shining example of what it means to be a healthcare hero.
You Can Support Colleagues Like Renee
Our colleagues go about their jobs quietly every day, going above and beyond for their patients and our community. TMH wouldn’t exist without them, which is why I am honored to ask you to give toward scholarships.
Would you consider making a gift through the TMH Foundation before the end of the year to support clinical colleagues as they seek to further their education and careers? You can give online at TMHFoundation.ORG or by mailing a check to the TMH Foundation using the enclosed envelope.
Scholarships keep talented healthcare providers in Tallahassee and help TMH continue to provide the best possible care for our region.
And There’s More to Renee’s Story
Renee’s patient was so appreciative of her kindness that he made a generous gift to start a scholarship fund in her name. The Renee Benson Scholarship Fund will support colleagues of the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center.
Here’s the best part: The first recipient of the Renee Benson Scholarship is ... Renee.
With encouragement from her supervisor, Renee is now on a path to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing and become a registered nurse, something she’s wanted to do since she was 10 years old. Renee will be taking two classes next semester.
You Can Change Lives Through Scholarship Giving
At TMH, we are dedicated to creating professional development opportunities for colleagues because we know that their success is TMH’s success – and our community’s success. We have established scholarships for current colleagues in a variety of departments and specialty areas,
as well as for students enrolled in one of our local colleges or universities, but the need is great. With your gift we can expand the number of scholarships awarded each semester and help more colleagues achieve their dreams. I know you are asked to give to many different causes, and I know you give generously.
If you want to give a gift that will have a lasting impact on the quality of life in our region, support scholarships for healthcare heroes.
You can give online at TMHFoundation.ORG. Click on “Donate Today,” then choose “Clinical Scholarship Fund” from the dropdown menu on the online giving form.
You may also mail a check. Mail your check with the enclosed envelope to TMH Foundation, 1331 East 6th Avenue, Tallahassee, FL, 32303. Please write “Clinical Scholarship Fund” on the check memo line. Your gift will be used to meet the most
immediate needs for scholarships.
If you are a grateful patient or would like to designate your scholarship for a specific department or specialty area, please contact the TMH Foundation to discuss options. You can contact Nigel Allen, TMH Foundation president and chief advancement officer, at Nigel.Allen@TMH.ORG or 850-431-5752.
Everyone wins when talented healthcare professionals stay in Tallahassee and further their education at one of our wonderful local colleges or universities. You can make this happen!
The simple truth is that Renee provided a level of care that we’d all want for ourselves or for a loved one in the hospital. We need more Renees! With your help, local healthcare heroes will achieve their dreams and continue to provide life-saving care for our community.
Thank you for reading my letter and for your ongoing support of TMH. You are truly giving life through the TMH Foundation, and we are so grateful.
Sincerely,
G. Mark O’Bryant
President and CEO
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
P.S. Your gift of ANY AMOUNT will fund scholarships and training, but here are a few examples of how you can help:
- $400 helps underwrite the costs of certification testing.
- $1,000 helps underwrite the normal cost of study materials.
- $2,500 will help underwrite the cost of tuition for one semester for a local nursing student.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, CH-04823, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
100% of the contributions received by the TMH Foundation benefit TMH patients and their families, and promote the health and welfare of the region at large through community involvement, educational training programs and research projects in accordance with the respective donors’ intent.
NOTE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA) FUND-RAISING PROCEDURE, YOU MAY ELECT TO “OPT OUT” OF FUTURE TMH FOUNDATION COMMUNICATIONS BY EITHER A TELEPHONE CALL (850-431-5389) OR EMAIL (FOUNDATION@TMH.ORG) OR LETTER (1331 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32303).
