Lower Sunshine Coast staff able to benefit from St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Staff Education Fund

The Board of Directors of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation (StMHF) is pleased to announce the establishment of a Staff Education Fund to support the educational endeavours of health authority staff at VCH sites and facilities within the Sunshine Coast community of care. This fund is made possible thanks to the generosity of StMHF donors.

“Our local health authority staff are terrific and this fund is our way of using some of our donor dollars to help them increase their knowledge and skills for the benefit of all Lower Sunshine Coast residents,” says Maureen Clayton, StMHF chair. “We are grateful to our donors for enabling us to make this fund a reality.”

Through the fund, staff may be eligible for up to $1,000 every two years to support professional development such as workshops and conferences, and up to $500 a year, to a maximum of $2,000 towards an undergraduate degree. It’s available to regular full-time, casual and part-time employees who meet the specific grant criteria.

“Our board is very supportive of local health authority employees and wants to help them achieve their educational aspirations,” says Gerry Latham, StMHF director and Education Committee Chair. “We know that by helping staff in this way we are helping to ensure our community has access to the latest and best  healthcare  knowledge and expertise,” adds Gerry. “We look forward to welcoming applications, awarding grants and helping staff advance.”

The program launches April 1, 2014 with the first grants awarded in June. Applications will be available at the St. Mary’s Hospital administration office and online at www.stmhf.org.  For more information contact Sheena Macdonald, executive director, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation at sheena.macdonald@vch.ca or 604.885.8637.