Empowered beyond measure

A message from the director of development

October 29, 2021

John Kilbride

On behalf of Dean Connie White Delaney and the entire School of Nursing community, it is with sincere gratitude that we recognize the generosity of our alumni, faculty, staff and friends. You are the reason why Empowering Health: The Campaign for the School of Nursing raised $48.6 million to advance nursing excellence. From three priorities—preparing nurse leaders, ensuring forward-thinking faculty and transforming research—came a community connectivity that led to the most successful fundraising campaign in the school’s history.

The Empowering Health story started with a record-breaking gifts from the Bentson Foundation to establish the Bentson Healthy Communities Innovation Center, the school’s health care simulation space, and grow our Doctor of Nursing Practice program into the largest full-time program in the country. What happened over the years that followed can only be described as an historic achievement, one that would not have been possible without a passionate belief in nursing education, research and practice. With enhanced faculty chairs and professorships, increased research opportunities and expanded pathways for student scholarships, the School of Nursing is certainly empowered to move forward in transformational fashion.

We are deeply grateful to all who contributed their resources and time toward a greater good and offer a special thank you to School of Nursing Foundation Board of Trustees for their leadership throughout the campaign. And while surpassing our $45 million goal was an achievement, community impact is the true return on investment. Over the next few pages, we have shared stories that demonstrate how impact capital is indeed empowering health beyond measure.

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John Kilbride 
Director of Development 


Empowering Health Campaign – with gratitude

The School of Nursing’s Empowering Health Campaign reached a successful conclusion on June 30, 2021, having raised over $48 million.  We are incredibly grateful for every single gift and everyone who joined us to advance nursing education, practice and research. Through your partnership, we’ll continue the work to provide communities with the finest nursing professionals, meet the evolving needs of patients, families, and health care systems, and increase healthcare equity, access and efficiencies.

campaign progress bar chart showing $45M goal was exceeded

Board of Trustees

Bernie Aldrich
Treasurer
Rimage Corporation, Retired
Jeannine Bayard
UnitedHealth Group, Retired
Ann Garwick
University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Retired
Allysia Jenkins
Humana
Cynthia Jurgensen
Past Chair
UnitedHealth Group, Retired
Lisa Martin
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Lisa Moon
Advocate Consulting
Christine Mueller
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Nancy Olson
Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Retired
Marjorie Page
Chair Elect
M Health Fairview, Retired
David Rothenberger
Secretary
University of Minnesota Department of Surgery
Sharyn Salmen
Salmen Consulting
Nancy DeZellar Walsh
Chair
DeZellar Walsh Consulting LLC

Ex-Officio Members
(with voting privileges)

Connie White Delaney
Professor and Dean, 
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
John Kilbride
Director of Development, 
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Jean Carraher
Nursing Alumni Representative
Alumni Society Board of Directors

Trustee Emeriti

Sandra Anderson
Dawn Bazarko
Mary Lou Christensen
Susan Forstrom
Patricia Kane
Marilee Miller
Carolyn Schroeder
Jack Spillane

 

Categories: Donor Stories

Tags: Development

https://nursing.umn.edu/news-events/empowered-beyond-measure