Among the 16 successful applicants of TD Bank Financial Group and The Health Foundation fall education awards for 2015, which were announced last week, were several from this area.
Applications are considered twice each year and awards are given each spring and fall, explained Ross Fisher, executive director of The Health Foundation. There were 16 successful applicants this fall and a total of $19,946.34 awarded.
Phyllis Olynyk of Canora and Loretta Erhardt of Togo received scholarships from The Health Foundation.
Paige Fogg of Invermay and Chrissy Pelechaty of Pelly received $1,500 TD Bank Financial Group’s scholarships. Fogg is in her second year of study for a bachelor of science in nursing while Pelechaty is in her third year.
Pat Kuspira of Yorkton and Fred Hilton of Kamsack received scholarship awards to take the second step of the Crucial Accountability Program so they can deliver the course in the Sunrise Health Region.
An award has been made to Kerry O’Donnell of Calder, who is a nurse who will be completing the Respiratory Training and Education program, which will enable her to provide training and improve the clinical ability of Sunrise staff.
Annually, The Health Foundation’s Scholarship Fund awards at least $24,000 to help further the training and education of health care staff in east central Saskatchewan. The TD Bank Financial Group contributes $12,000 annually to fund 50 per cent of the awards.
For 15 consecutive years, TD has partnered with The Health Foundation, making a significant investment in local health care through this education program. This brings the total of TD Bank Financial Groups investment in this education program to $162,000.
“TD Bank Financial Group is committed to investing in the future of this region by helping to ensure that nurses and other caregivers have access to funds to upgrade their skills and further their education,” said Les Arnelien, branch manager with TD Canada Trust. “We are pleased that TD Bank Financial Group is presenting awards to five students taking their bachelor of science in nursing. These awards will help the individuals pursue their education aspirations and improve their clinical skills and the knowledge they bring to their job working with patients.
“This education program has had great success since it started,” said Arnelien. “We have helped nurses and therapists improve their education and clinical skills. This program has helped improve the quality of health care available in our local medical facilities.”
Since TD Bank Financial Group and The Health Foundation started this program in 2002, there have been 342 awards totalling $317,304. The Health Foundation normally grants up to $24,000 in educational awards, but if some awards are unused those funds are carried forward and made available in the next round of applications.
