Class giving has always been a unique way for Bloomberg Nursing alumni to make a big impact on future generations of nurses.
For alumnae Mary Campbell and Pat Caulfield and their fellow members of the Class of 1969, giving to Bloomberg Nursing’s Educating Nursing’s Future Fund (ENF Fund) is a tangible way to celebrate not only their legacy, but also the evolving nature of the nursing profession — and their desire to see it grow.
It was during their 55th graduation anniversary celebration at the 2024 U of T Reunion Breakfast with the Dean, that Campbell and Caulfield were first inspired to motivate their class to give back. They were moved after listening to special guests Gail Donner and Gail Paech speak about the new ENF fund at Bloomberg Nursing. The goal of this new fund — to alleviate debt and financial barriers for nursing students — was something they felt they would commit to support.
“It really struck me when the two Gails said ‘nurses should be supporting nurses’,” says Campbell. “Given everything that nurses have had to experience through COVID and the ongoing challenges related to staff shortages, burnout and high levels of stress, we as alumni need to consider how impactful our support can be for nursing students and the profession as a whole.”
Campbell believes nurses are the backbone of the healthcare profession and giving to the ENF Fund is a way for her and her fellow classmates to support the essential work that nurses do.
“Graduating with a BScN degree from U of T enabled me to enjoy a variety of different and very personally rewarding careers in nursing. We may be graduating all of these nurses, but how are we going to encourage them to stay? This is part of my motivation to give back to the University,” says Campbell.
For Pat Caulfied, hearing from two nursing students speak at length during the reunion event about their experiences and needs, was equally motivating. Although Caulfield has been out of the nursing profession for some time, she recognizes that the role of nurses has greatly expanded. Yet their status and compensation, are not fully recognized and appreciated.
“Whatever little I can do so that some nursing students have less debt when they walk out the door and into the field, is something that I am encouraged to do,” says Caulfield.
Together Campbell and Caulfield sent a fundraising pitch to their classmates following the 2024 reunion to see if they could raise money for the ENF Fund. It was a challeging task at first.
They recognized that individuals are inundated with requests to donate to various causes which can result in what they describe as donor fatigue. Early this year, they relaunched their pitch to the Class of ‘69 in time for U of T’s Giving Day campaign to take advantage of the matching opportunity provided by the Unviersity which can double or triple the impact of donations.
Any gift up to $1000 was matched by U of T and attributed to the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, while a donation of $1000 or more was matched dollar-for-dollar by Bloomberg Nursing. For the two alumnae, it was a great opportunity to encourage classmates to give again or become first-time donors.
Through this fundraising experience both Campbell and Caulfield also became aware that making a donation of securities (stocks) can be an easy and convenient way to donate.
Throughout their involvement in this campaign, Caulfield and Campbell also reflected on the evolution of the nursing profession over the years. When they chose the nursing profession, it was one of only a few career options available for women. Now they both look forward to seeing nurses in positions of leadership and the continued advancement of the profession.
“Supporting nursing students while they are in school may help set them on a path to leadership positions where we will have more nurses with a say in resourcing and staffing, and the ability to advocate for those in the profession,” says Campbell.
Caulfield adds that by donating to the Educating Nursing’s Future Fund, alumni may directly influence the course of the future of nursing.
“We are playing a part in educating nurses for the future and the increasingly fundamental role they play. That is something worth supporting,” she says.
Giving to the ENF Fund is easier than ever. You can contact Nicole Landa Senior Development Officer for more information.