A gift of $40,000 from SSM Health to Marian University will help single parents earn their college degree, transforming the lives and economic futures of their children.
The donation is for Marian’s Working Families Grant, which provides financial assistance and support services to low-income, single parents earning their bachelor’s degree.
Tami Schattschneider, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Patient Care Services vice president/chief nursing officer, and Laura Nakielski, SSM Health senior community health specialist, presented the check to , and Kerry Strupp, Marian University’s director of the Working Families Grant.
“SSM Health’s generous gift is a significant investment, changing lives and the futures of families,” said Aaron Sadoff, president of Marian University. “We are blessed to have SSM Health as a valued community partner helping families thrive, strengthening the entire Fond du Lac community.”
Since its founding in 2002, 312 students have taken part in the Working Families Grant program, with 240 graduating – an 84.9 percent graduation rate, which exceeds the national graduation rate of all income levels (61.1 percent). Participants receive assistance with tuition, childcare and household expenses, allowing them to focus on their education. Participants must remain enrolled full-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher and give back to the community by working 20 hours of community service each semester.
For more information about the Working Families Grant program, visit marianuniversity.edu.
In 2024, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves.
