Mary Porcari Brady Fund Donates $10K to Create Emergency Fund for TC3 Nursing Students
Nurses have often been referred to as angels. Now, through the generosity of the Mary Porcari Brady Fund, nursing students at Tompkins Cortland Community College have a new guardian angel. A $10,000 donation has established the Mary Porcari Brady Emergency Nursing Fund at TC3. The fund will help students address emergency needs that could otherwise sidetrack their education.
The Tompkins Cortland Community College nursing program graduates between 60 and 90 students each year. The majority of those students receive scholarships and financial aid, but unexpected burdens arise. “Nursing students typically have very busy lives with multiple responsibilities and frequently we lose an academically well prepared student due to financial reasons,” said Professor Kimberly Sharp, chair of the TC3 Nursing Program. “This fund will allow us to help any nursing student with an emergency need be able to complete the program and become a nurse. We know how great the need for nurses is in our community. As an educator and a member of the community, I am deeply grateful to the Mary Porcari Brady family for this donation.”
Mary Porcari Brady was a nurse for nearly 30 years, spending part of her career at Cortland Memorial Hospital. When she passed in 2001, her surviving children established the Mary Porcari Brady Fund to assist nursing students, first at Monroe Community College, and now at four different community colleges in New York.
"Our Mom loved living in Cortland County and working as an RN at Cortland Memorial Hospital", said Jinny Porcari Keough of Atlanta, Georgia, Mary Porcari Brady's eldest surviving child. "Giving back to others was one of the most important lessons she taught us. We are thrilled to support Tompkins Cortland Community College and provide assistance to help student nurses meet unexpected expenses that might derail their education."
“This emergency needs fund will make a real difference for our nursing students, which in turn means it will make a real difference in our community,” said TC3 President Amy Kremenek. “We thank the family of Mary Porcari Brady for choosing to honor their mother in a way that reflects her legacy and commitment she had for caring for others.”
The fund is administered by the TC3 nursing faculty, meaning there are no administrative or overhead costs associated with the grant and 100% of all contributions to the Mary Porcari Brady Fund go to nursing students. To learn more or to contribute to the fund, visit mpbfund.com.