West River Health Services Foundation Exceeds $500K Target

James B. Miller, Jr., The Dickinson Press, N.D.
·3 min read

Dec. 13—HETTINGER, N.D. — The West River Health Services Foundation has surpassed its initial target of $500,000 for the "Healthcare Heroes Endowment Fund" in a mere 27 months, significantly ahead of the original five-year projection.

This achievement enables the Foundation to channel the funds towards three primary objectives: providing academic loans for college upperclassmen pursuing careers available at West River Health Services (WRHS) and Western Horizons Living Centers (WHLC), offering signing bonuses for vital positions at both facilities and for granting spot bonuses to existing "healthcare heroes."

The WRHS Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to the local communities for their generous support, which played a crucial role in reaching this milestone.

In the past week, the Hettinger Jaycee's made a substantial contribution of $20,000, pushing the campaign beyond the $500,000 threshold. Thousands of donors, with contributions ranging from $5 to $50,000, have contributed to the "Healthcare Heroes Endowment Fund."

Among the top twenty cumulative contributors with gifts of $6,000 or more, noteworthy individuals and entities include some anonymous donors, as well as Nevada and Wendy Jorgenson, David Nygaard, Crum Family, Jodi Uecker, Dr. Mark and LaNae Kristy, Hettinger Jaycee's, Roger Dieterle, Dennis and Dava Rustan, Wade Henderson, Duane and Karen Pierce, Dr. Josh and Dr. Carrie Ranum, Roger Lutz, Dr. John and Gina Joyce, Dakota Western Bank, Clarence Jost, Ted and Sheri Uecker, Mike and Sandy Marion, Dakota Community Bank and JC Farms.

The interest yielded by the "Healthcare Heroes Endowment Fund" has facilitated the provision of academic loans, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, to three college upperclassmen pursuing nursing degrees.

Among them, Brenna Wert from Bismarck State University and Holli Tollefson from NDSU-Bismarck have verbally expressed their intent to accept the loans and are currently evaluating the associated contracts. Upon formalization, each student will receive half of the loan at the commencement of their final college semester in January, with the remaining portion disbursed upon graduation in May. These students intend to seek nursing positions at WRHS and or WHLC in June or July, contributing to the rural healthcare workforce.

The third candidate, Abayomi Adebiyi from North Dakota State College of Science via Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is in the process of obtaining American citizenship and is projected to complete his studies in Dec. 2024, commencing his nursing career at WRHS/WHLC in Jan.-Feb. 2025.

Following a similar structure to the other recipients, he will receive half of the loan at the outset of the fall semester in August 2024, with the remaining portion disbursed upon his graduation in Dec. 2024.

On Sept. 11, the WRHS Foundation initiated the "Academic Loan Program" by dispatching approximately 150 letters, posters and application materials to deans and instructors at more than 75 colleges and universities across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.

The program is designed to cater to students pursuing careers as Radiologic and Ultrasound Technologists, Nurses (LPN & RN), Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Informational Technologists, CRNAs, Surgical Technicians, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Coders, Paramedics, and Registered Dietitians. Eligibility for the Academic Loan Program extends to upperclassmen (Junior/Senior in 4+ year programs and any 1 or 2-year program), offering assistance with education expenses and providing complete loan forgiveness in return for future employment.

By Nov. 1, applications had been received and recipients were selected by the WRHS Administration and the Scholarship Selection Committee. The WRHS Foundation anticipates receiving more applications as the program continues to evolve.

The West River Health Services Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serves as a provider of fundraising and development services for West River Health Services and Western Horizons Living Centers. Its mission is centered on delivering comprehensive health and wellness services to both residents and visitors in the region, with a commitment to enhancing high-quality healthcare within the local community.

For inquiries regarding the WRHS Foundation, please direct your questions to Ted Uecker at 701-567-3666.