Nursing students at the Jamestown Campus of SUNY Jamestown Community College have a new source of support, courtesy of the Michael Boedo Community Foundation.
The emergency relief fund was established with a gift of $1,000 from Brian Boedo, president of the foundation that was established in memory of his brother. Michael Boedo was a phlebotomist at TLC-Lakeshore Health Center in Irving before he died from an accidental overdose.
“Michael always wanted to return to school as an adult, but found it hard to do so,” said Brian Boedo. “We chose JCC as a local avenue to help others reach the dream he was unable to achieve.”
The fund will assist full-time students enrolled in the Nursing program on the Jamestown Campus who may be struggling to meet everyday or program-related expenses so they can focus on their studies. Boedo hopes to one day make a larger donation to the JCC Foundation so the scholarship will be accessible to Nursing students for many years to come. With that and several other initiatives in mind, Boedo said his foundation has a barbeque and cornhole tournament fundraiser planned for noon on Aug. 31 at the Boedo Pavilion located at 12401 Allegheny Road in Silver Creek.
Carissa Bentley, development and alumni relations coordinator for the JCC Foundation, said Nursing program faculty are thrilled with this gift, and the thoughtful intention behind it.
“This show of support for our Nursing program and its students has so much thought and meaning behind it,” said Bentley. “Those who benefit from this gift are sure to think of Michael and his passion for healthcare, and the importance of their training and the lives they will one day save. This fund has the power to encourage our students mentally and emotionally just as much as financially.”
While the fall 2024 Nursing cohort is full, the application window will open in December for 2025. More details are at sunyjcc.edu/Nursing.