PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Dionne Scott, Access College Foundation
dscott@accesscollege.org
(757) 675-3999
Sentara Healthcare Awards $100,000 to Access College Foundation
The Sentara Scholars Fund Will Provide Scholarship Assistance for Access Scholars Interested in Healthcare Careers
Norfolk, VA. (January 31, 2023) – Access College Foundation is the proud recipient of a $100,000 Sentara Scholars Fund grant from Sentara Healthcare. The Sentara Scholars Fund was established to maximize Sentara’s impact on partner non-profit organizations and higher education institutions across Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, while helping to create a diverse and highly skilled workforce pipeline in the healthcare and healthcare-related fields.
Sentara is focused on supporting students who identify as a member of a marginalized population seeking/earning a certification or degree that will enable them to obtain employment in healthcare or healthcare-related fields. Partners, like Access College Foundation, prioritize students that align with this target audience and have the capacity to distribute the scholarship funds provided through this grant.
“We are delighted to partner with Sentara Healthcare to award this scholarship assistance to our Class of 2023 Access Scholars. These funds will make a real difference in our students’ ability to cover their educational costs and enroll in college in the fall,” said Bonnie B. Sutton, President and CEO of Access College Foundation.
Sentara
Sentara Healthcare celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Sentara is an integrated, no-for-profit health care delivery system with more than 29,000 employees (including 1,375 physicians and advanced practice providers), 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves over 900,000 members. Sentara is recognized nationally for clinical quality and safety, and is strategically focused on innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members. Sentara was named to IBM Watson Health’s “Top 15 Health Systems” in 2021 and 2018, recognized as a “Best Employer for Women” by Forbes in 2020, and ranked as one of Forbes “America’s Best Employers” in 2018.
Access College Foundation
Since 1988, Access has helped more than 77,000 students from low- and moderate-income families enroll in a certification or degree program while leveraging $780 million in financial aid and scholarships. Additionally, Access has awarded more than $14 million in Access “Last-Dollar” Scholarships to students, helping to make their educational paths possible. Over the last 34 years, Access has proven that through guidance, mentorship, and financial assistance, Hampton Roads’ brightest students can achieve their educational dreams – regardless of their background. As these graduates return home, they contribute to the vitality of our community, as the doctors, lawyers, teachers, and engineers of tomorrow.