Pictured, left to right, are members of the 2023 Morning Pointe Foundation board of directors: Norma Cooper, Morning Pointe Senior Living CFO; David Haddock; Miranda Perez, Morning Pointe Foundation executive director; Debbie Ingram; Doug Brown; and Morning Pointe Senior Living Co-Founder and CEO Franklin Farrow
The Morning Pointe Foundation has added Pellissippi State Community College as its 13th community college partner as it works to provide scholarship support for more nursing students in the Knox County region.
Officials said, "Morning Pointe Senior Living is responding to the growing need for qualified caregivers as a large segment of the U.S. population is aging. Through scholarship support, Morning Pointe partners with colleges and universities to help promote excellent healthcare professionals."
“Partners like Pellissippi State Community College are critical to the success of the Morning Pointe
Foundation as we strive to provide financial support for nursing students pursuing a career in senior care,” said Miranda Perez, executive director.
“Together with Pellissippi State leadership, we are thrilled to help worthy students at the college fulfill their educational and career dreams, and ultimately benefit local seniors as well.”
Jessica Belnap, interim dean of health sciences at PSCC, said, “These scholarships ease the financial
burden on several of our nursing students as oftentimes they must work fewer hours, and in some
instances not work at all, in order to devote time to their studies. Whether the scholarships are used to help with books, uniforms or nursing equipment such as stethoscopes and pen lights, they provide relief to students who are giving up so much to reach their goal of becoming a nurse.”
The Morning Pointe Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living and was
founded in 2014 by senior healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. The 501(c)3 non-profit organization provides nursing scholarship opportunities, forms community partnerships and supports caregivers in its mission to advance the care of seniors.
“Especially in our post-pandemic healthcare environment, skilled caregivers like our Morning Pointe
Foundation scholars are an incredibly precious resource,” said Greg A. Vital, president of Morning Pointe Senior Living. “Nothing can replace their compassionate care and clinical knowledge, and it is our privilege to assist in bringing new and passionate caregivers into the field.”
Since its inception, the Morning Pointe Foundation has funded over 70 nursing scholarships at partner community colleges.
Pictured are (left to right) Jessica Schaeffer, Community Relations director at Morning Pointe of Knoxville; Kristy Ritch, executive director at Morning Pointe of Knoxville; and Pellissippi, nursing professor Donna M. Johnson