WSSU announces $2M Bedford Falls Foundation nursing grant during visit with NC governor, state legislators
Winston-Salem State University announced a $2 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF for its nursing program during a press conference April 22 featuring N.C. Gov. Josh Stein and other state legislators.
The grant addresses the critical need for highly skilled nurses in North Carolina. The monies are designated for need-based nursing scholarships, student success efforts, and an emergency fund.
“Nursing education is known for its rigorous demands and high out-of-pocket expenses,” said Dr. Leslee Battle, dean of the WSSU School of Health Sciences. “Many students face financial challenges that can hinder their ability to pursue their dreams of becoming nurses. This support will directly address those barriers, allowing us to provide essential resources and support to our nursing students.”
“We have seen firsthand that when nursing students have a lower debt burden, they are better able to achieve their personal and professional goals,” said Bill Conway, Jr., founder and trustee of the Bedford Falls Foundation, in a written statement. “We are proud to support the future nurses of Winston-Salem State University as they work towards their goal of becoming great nurses. We need them.”
WSSU’s motto, “Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve,” resonates with Bedford Falls as its goal is to help provide resources for students so they can enter the nursing field fully prepared to serve those in need of care, the statement continued.
Stein said North Carolina is expected to face a shortage of approximately 12,500 registered nurses and 5,000 licensed practical nurses by 2033 – only eight years from today – and with the state’s growing aging population, the demand for nurses is projected to increase.
"As our state works to strengthen the nursing workforce, public private partnership is a key ingredient of whatever success we will ultimately achieve. That is why I am so personally grateful to the Bedford Falls Foundation for their $2-million-dollar grant to Winston-Salem State,” Stein said.
WSSU has consistently garnered recognition as a top program for nursing, Stein noted, highlighting the program’s implementation of virtual reality technology into its training.
“Through immersive simulations, your nursing students are getting practice in a wide range of scenarios from basic procedures to complex patient care situations. These advances are helping to keep Winston-Salem State at the forefront of nursing education,” he said.
“We are grateful to the Bedford Falls Foundation for its ongoing efforts to address the nationwide nursing shortage and remove barriers to high-quality nursing education,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown.
This contribution will strengthen the nursing pipeline for Winston-Salem, the Piedmont Triad region and the state, Brown said. “This investment in our nursing program is a testament to our university’s long history as a leading educational institution for nursing students.”
Brown specifically recognized N.C. Rep. Donny Lambeth and N.C. Senator Paul Lowe, both of Forsyth County, as well as N.C. Rep. Carla Cunningham of Charlotte, a WSSU nursing graduate, for sponsoring legislation to establish a Nursing Fellows Program at WSSU. Additionally, she thanked Lowe for introducing legislation for a new facility to house WSSU’s Health Sciences programs.
Also on program were Lowe, Cunningham, and Calvin McRae, vice president of public policy for Greater Winston Salem Inc.
In thanking the Bedford Falls Foundation, Stein said, “Just as our nurses spend their days caring for our patients, we must care for them. Chancellor Brown, I look forward to working with you and seeing how Winston-Salem State uses this grant to support and train our next generation of nurses, and I am committed to partnering with you and everyone in this room so that together we build a North Carolina that is safer, stronger and healthy.”
About Bedford Falls Foundation
The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation, and Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, a donor advised fund advised by the foundation, were each established by Bill Conway Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of the global investment firm the Carlyle Group, and his late wife Joanne Barkett Conway. Since 2013, the shared mission of their nursing philanthropy is to remove financial barriers to a high-quality nursing education and supporting educational partners in addressing the critical nursing workforce shortage. To learn more about Bedford Falls and the areas that it supports, please visit www.bedfordfallsfoundation.org.
