INSPIRATIONS: School of Health Professions receives $1 million gift from SWFL Children's Charities
Oct 27, 2015
On October 19, a $1 million support pledge was formally signed by SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., and Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) to benefit the School of Health Professions.
The gift, payable in five annual installments of $200,000 starting June 2016, will be used to purchase new technology, provide advanced training, or to award scholarships to qualifying students. In recognition of the pledge and past donations, the simulation center at FSW will now be called the Southwest Florida Children’s Charities Simulation Center.
FSW’s School of Health Professions offers simulation education to help students gain skills and confidence for real-world patient care scenarios. With the state increasing the time required for students to spend in clinical training from 25 to 50 percent, and broadening the clinical definition to include simulation, the school is setting the bar for the future of healthcare education.
Previously donated funds from SWFL Children’s Charities have gone to purchasing a birthing mother and newborn simulator, a pediatric simulator, a mechanical ventilator for practice skills on pediatric patients and an X-ray machine for pediatric patients treated at the Dental Hygiene Clinic.
“The need for work-ready health care professionals is growing exponentially in the Southwest Florida community, and this contribution from SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. will further enable our college to continue equipping students for success in this industry,” said Dr. Jeff Allbritten, President, FSW. “We are grateful to SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. for its dedication to pediatric healthcare. This organization’s generosity means our students will have exceptional training so when they graduate, they will make an immediate and positive impact for the medical needs of our region’s youth.”
“At SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., our mission is to positively impact the health and lives of children, and we believe that there is no better place to start than with future healthcare professionals,” said Dave Copham, Trustee and Member of the SWFL Children’s Charities Board of Directors. “Our support begins with the dedicated individuals that will be caring for Southwest Florida children in medical settings, and strengthening healthcare programs like FSW’s will ensure that these children will receive the most advanced care from a team of well-trained medical professionals.”
The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, SWFL Children’s Charities’ annual signature event, has raised nearly $15 million over the past seven years, making it the most successful fundraising event in Lee County and one of the top-grossing wine fests in the country.
The Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is the primary beneficiary of the event, which also lends support to educational programs at Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University. For more information, visit www.swflwinefest.org.
Last Updated: October 27, 2015
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