Scholarships and Grants

St. Luke's Foundation's Patient Care Excellence Award Program recognizes health care providers who demonstrate outstanding achievement in their chosen field.

Eligibility

• Be scheduled at 32 hours per pay period in a St. Luke's Hospital-based department
• Award candidate is considered to "exceed expectations" or be a "role model" in their most recent Annual Performance Assessment
• Be nominated by a peer, manager, director or physician
• Complete the Awards Application

Nominations

The nomination process is currently closed and will re-open January 2024.   

2020-2023 Patient Care Excellence Award Winners  

This Award was created by St. Luke's Auxiliary in 2018 to honor Ted Townsend and mark his contributions and accomplishments as President and CEO of St. Luke's Hospital. One of Mr. Townsend's greatest achievements was to build a culture of engagement among St. Luke's team members. This Award recognizes an outstanding UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids team member who embraces Mr. Townsend's spirit of transformational leadership. 

Like Mr. Townsend, this team member creates valuable and positive change within the team, hospital, healthcare system or community. This leader directs others through innovation, initiative and compassion. By expecting the best from everyone and pursuing improved ways to work together, this team member helps to deliver the healthcare we'd like our loved ones to receive. 

Award recipients receive financial support for academic courses, continuing education, educational conferences or professional certification. 

Eligibility

A team member in good standing of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids working at least 32 hours a pay period. Members of the UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids family who are eligible for this Award, include:

• Abbe Center
• Helen G. Nassif Transitional Care Center
• Jones Regional Medical Center
• MedLabs
• St. Luke's Hospital
• Surgery Center of Cedar Rapids
• UnityPoint Clinics
• UnityPoint Information Technology
• UnityPoint Outpatient Hospice & Home Care
• UnityPoint at Home – Medical Equipment

Nominations

The nomination process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024. 

UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Foundation's iGrant Program gives priority consideration to support innovative programs and equipment to enhance and strengthen the strategic framework of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids. St. Luke's Foundation's iGrant is funded through WeCare, our annual employee giving campaign. Since 2013, the iGrant Program has provided more than $2 million of funding for hospital and clinic projects.

Eligibility

The application process is currently closed and will reopen May 2024.

Eligible entities for iGrant include all units/clinics of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids:

• St. Luke's Hospital Departments
• AbbeHealth
• Jones Regional Medical Center (they use their own application)
• Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center
• MedLabs
• Surgery Center
• UnityPoint at Home and Hospice
• UnityPoint Health Information Technology (IT)
• UnityPoint Clinics (Eligible Clinics Include: Administration, Bowman Woods, Diabetes & Kidney Center, Downtown Pediatrics, Express Lindale, Express Peck's Landing, Gastroenterology, Hiawatha Internal Medicine, Hiawatha Pediatrics, Marion Family Medicine & Urgent Care, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Medical District, Multi-Specialty, Mt. Vernon, Northridge, Tower Terrace, Westside Urgent Care, Westdale Family Medicine & Pediatrics)

One application per unit can be awarded every 12 months. The term "unit" could be a:

• Nursing Unit like 5 Center
• Department like Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Work Group and/or Hospital-Wide Project like Safe Patient Handling
• Service like Fit Zone

Purpose

All projects should be compatible with iGrant's purpose to assist UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids to:

• Advance the quality of the patient and/or family care experience.
• Improve the care innovation and/or care delivery for our patients and their families.

iGrant Restrictions

• Education that can be funded through other opportunities from the Hospital or Foundation
• Travel Expenses
• Salaries and Benefits
• Routine infrastructure (Examples: floor coverings, construction costs, paint/wall coverings)
  Items that could be viewed as enticement (Example: equipment given to a patient to use in their home. This could include a scale, wheelchair, walker, etc.)

The St. Luke's Foundation Rural Healthcare Grant Program supports:

• Equipment for emergency care in the pre-hospital environment
• Training for emergency personnel to gain or enhance their skills
• Basic, life-supporting training equipment such as Hand-Only CPR, Little Anne
• Mileage reimbursement for Transportation Programs

Eligibility

The 2024 St. Luke’s Rural Healthcare Grant is due on May 28, 2024.

Applicants must reside in a rural community serving Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, northern Johnson, Jones and Linn counties. Eligible entities include Ambulance Services, Paramedics, Fire and Rescue Departments, Transportation Programs and First Responders.

St. Luke's Foundation provides grants to:

• Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
• Organizations that are part of a governmental unit (county, city, etc.) Documentation is required. If an entity is not part of the main government, provide a copy of the 28E Agreement.

Matching Grant Guidelines

Maximum grant request is $6,000. The grant will not fund more than 50% of the grant project. The grant is made on a matching basis whereby St. Luke's Foundation will award one dollar for every $1 raised between, January 1 to December 31 of the calendar year the grant is awarded. The deadline for matching this grant is December 31.

Application

Please consider a gift today to the Alumni Endowment or Charlene Allely Endowment to help us continue providing these invaluable scholarships.

Eligibility

St. Luke's School of Nursing Alumni are eligible to apply for scholarships to continue their education thanks to the Charlene Allely Revocable Trust. Alum may apply for $500 scholarships towards CEU registration fees. This scholarship can be used for travel or lodging needed to attend the CEU. The CEU scholarships may be applied for throughout the year and do not have be health related.

Alum choosing to continue their formal education are eligible for $500 scholarships. The scholarships do not have to be used towards health related coursework. Scholarships will be awarded according to the school year - usually twice yearly. Applicants may reapply annually for scholarships.

Application

Applications accepted anytime.

MSN in Nursing Administration Program

This is a graduate degree for nurses pursuing career advancement in nursing administration (leadership). The MSN in Nursing Administration Program requires 36 credit hours to complete the degree. The Keech MSN Scholarship will support 18 of the 36 credit hours. The remaining 18 credit hours will be the financial responsibility of the student. The student is encouraged to utilize the St. Luke’s Hospital Tuition Reimbursement Program and/or apply to St. Luke’s Foundation Scholarship Program.

After graduation with an MSN Degree, the Keech Scholarship Recipient is required to work five years in a St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department. If the Scholarship Recipient is unable to fulfill this requirement, they will be expected to pay back the entirety of the scholarship ($11,000).

The Keech MSN Scholarship

The St. Luke’s Foundation Keech MSN Scholarship offsets the expenses for 18 credit hours. The scholarship’s approximate value is $11,000.

Eligibility

• Be currently employed at an eligible St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department. Please see page 15 for a list of eligible and in-eligible departments.
• Have 12 months experience in a formal or informal nursing leadership role.
  • Example formal leadership role: Unit Supervisor or Manager
  • Example Informal Leadership Role: Charge Nurse or Nurse Preceptor
• Be accepted to Mount Mercy University’s MSN in Nursing Administration Program.
• Continue to work in an eligible St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department for five years following the graduation of an MSN Degree.

2023 Timeline

• October 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. – Applications are due to St. Luke’s Foundation.
• December 4, 2023 – Retention Agreement is due to Rebecca Moore (see page 14).
• January 2024 – Classes Begin

The RN to BSN Program

St. Luke’s Hospital and Mount Mercy University offer an expedited RN to BSN accelerated curriculum. With this partnership, RN to BSN students can complete the 21 nursing credit hours required by Mount Mercy University’s RN to BSN Program in less than one year. Students may take face-to-face or online classes.

To achieve a BSN, Mount Mercy University will require the student to complete core classes. Depending on each student’s academic history, this could be a minimum of nine credit hours to as many as 27. Core courses will be the financial responsibility of the student. The student is encouraged to utilize the St. Luke’s Hospital Tuition Reimbursement Program and/or apply to St. Luke’s Foundation Scholarship Program (timeline is announced annually in January).

After graduation with a BSN Degree, the Keech BSN Scholarship Recipient is required to work three years in a St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department. If the Scholarship Recipient is unable to fulfill this requirement, they will be expected to pay back the entirety of the scholarship ($9,181).

The Keech RN to BSN Scholarship

St. Luke’s Foundation’s Keech Scholarship offsets the expenses for the 21 nursing credit hours. The scholarship’s approximate value is $9,181 per student ($8,681 for tuition and $500 for books).

Eligibility

• Be currently employed at an eligible St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department. Please see page 15 for a list of eligible and in-eligible departments.
• Have 12 months of nursing experience (LPN/RN) at time of the application process. Example: Nurse began employment as an RN in December 2017; Nurse would be eligible to apply for the Keech Scholarship in January 2019.
• Be accepted to Mount Mercy University’s BSN Program.
• Continue to work in an eligible St. Luke’s Hospital-Based Department for three years following the graduation of a BSN Degree.

2023 Timeline

• October 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. – Applications are due to St. Luke’s Foundation
• December 4, 2023 – Retention Agreement is due to Rebecca Moore (see page 14).
• January 2024 – Classes Begin

Louisa Peak devoted her life to children and volunteering. Louisa was a long time teacher in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She spent most of her career teaching and nurturing junior high (or middle school) students. While she was a teacher, Louisa also became an active volunteer in school activities, the community and at St. Luke's Hospital. When she retired, Louisa volunteered at St. Luke's Hospital 40 hours a week.

Louisa Peak was St. Luke's first 10,000 hour volunteer in 1978. When Louisa Peak passed away in 1981, her family created a scholarship in her honor. The Louisa E. Peak Scholarship was created to pay tribute to her two life interests: children and volunteering.

Eligibility

• The applicant must be an active student volunteer in good standing at St. Luke's Hospital.
• The applicant must be a graduating high school senior in good academic standing.
• The applicant must plan to enter a humanistic occupation such as teaching, healthcare or social work.

Application

The application process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024.

Eligibility

St. Luke's School of Nursing Alumni scholarships are awarded by the Alumni Association from funds held in the Alumni Endowment. This scholarship is available to alumni who are pursuing advanced nursing degrees or other health professions; graduates enrolled in a BSN program; alumni pursuing certification or advanced education in an non-traditional nursing or healthcare-related program; or to children or grandchildren of alumni who are enrolled in a health-related  field (with preference given to nursing). Recently, six awardees received Alumni Scholarships.

Application

The application process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024.

St. Luke's Foundation's Scholarship Program provides scholarships to UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids team members to advance their educational and career goals.

Eligibility

• Be employed in an eligible UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids department.
• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university listed on the application for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Complete the application, the applicant is eligible for both the Foundation and Auxiliary scholarship programs.
• If you are currently employed in an eligible UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids department, continue to work for the organization for at least one year.

Application

The application process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024. 

Additional Information

The following is a list of individuals/organizations who have created scholarships at St. Luke's Foundation:

• Natalie and Joe Cohn
• Opal Fagle
• Ted and Lillian Feder
• May B. Gortner
• Walter & Ida Kansky
• Dr. Roy & Bess Keech
• Beatha Kuntz
• Dr. E.L Mansfield
• Darla Moander
• Norma Newmeister
• Nursing Scholarship
• Dr. J. Stuart McQuiston
• Ann and Forbes Olberg
• Greta Schuchmann
• Dr. Charles and Ruth Schwartz
• St. Luke's Auxiliary
• Ted Townsend, Sr.
• Ted Townsend, Jr.
• Maxine VanHamme
• Grace Wormer
• Merle and Myrtle Yanecek
• Brian D. Zimmerman

St. Luke's Auxiliary provides scholarships to UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids volunteers or auxilians as well as a child of a UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids team member or auxilian who is pursuing a degree in nursing or other health profession.

Eligibility

• Be a Unity Point Health – Cedar Rapids volunteer or auxilian pursuing a degree in nursing or other health profession.
• Be the child of a UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids team member or auxilian pursuing a degree in nursing or other health profession.
• Applicant's parent/guardian must work in an eligible UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids department.
• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university listed on the application for the 2023 – 2024 school year. 

Application

The application process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024.

The Theodore Townsend, Sr. Scholarship assists a UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids team member who is pursuing a non-clinical or health-related degree. The applicant must also be a non-traditional student who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Eligibility

• Be employed in an eligible UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids department. Please see page 13 for a list of eligible and in-eligible departments.
• Be a full-time, part-time or PRN employee. PRN employees must work a minimum of 12 hours a month. Please provide proof of hours worked for the previous three months.
• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university listed on the application for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Continue to work in an eligible UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids department for at least one year.

2024 Timeline

• March 4, 2024 at 3 p.m. – Applications are due to St. Luke's Foundation.

Bob Yaw loved to brag that he started his friendship with St. Luke's when he was born at the hospital on December 20, 1913. Mr. Yaw became a leader at St. Luke's when he joined the hospital board. During his tenure, he saw a need for the hospital to have a Foundation.

His foresight led to the establishment of the St. Luke's Foundation in 1977. He took it upon himself to gather leaders from the Cedar Rapids area to build a Foundation that gave people the opportunity to make contributions and serve the healthcare needs of eastern Iowa. In 1998, he established the Yaw Scholarship to help children of St. Luke's Team Members. Since that date, hundreds of students have received funds to help them with their educational pursuits.

Eligibility

• The applicant's parent must be a St. Luke's team member working a minimum of 20 hours per week at St. Luke's at one of the eligible departments.
• The applicant must be graduating high school in good academic standing.
• The applicant must have plans to pursue additional education at a college, university or accredited technical business trade school. The applicant does not need to be pursuing a degree in a healthcare related field.

Application

The application process is currently closed and will reopen January 2024.