
Celebrating our 20th Anniversary
We’re thrilled to kick off a year-long celebration of the Education Fund’s 20th Anniversary! Join us on this incredible journey as we reflect on two decades of empowering minds, transforming lives, and making education accessible to all. Let’s celebrate 20 years of educational excellence, innovation, and countless success stories. Check back for updates, and join us as we pave the way for an even brighter future through education.
From 2004 to today
Since our inception in 2004, the Education Fund has expanded to include 22 hospitals and health systems, benefiting approximately 105,000 eligible union members. Our mission is to promote fairness and inclusivity by creating pathways for career advancement that cater to the diverse needs of our communities. Nearly 70% of our learners come from diverse backgrounds, and around 80% are women. Through formal partnerships with major healthcare employers, we’re able to offer valuable career advancement opportunities in high-demand fields. Notably, graduates of our programs often experience a significant increase in their wages, with an average rise of 45% in family-sustaining union jobs. Learn more about our growth in our most recent Annual Report.
25 Years of the Shirley Ware Education Center: Legacy of a Powerhouse
The Shirley Ware Education Center (SWEC) is a beacon of learning and empowerment, enriching countless lives and communities through education. Named after Shirley Ware, a powerhouse union leader, SWEC is a testament to her unwavering dedication to education and labor rights. This special video honors Shirley Ware and commemorates the anniversary of the Shirley Ware Education Center. The video also describes how SWEC planted the seeds for what would become the SEIU-UHW & Joint Employer Education Fund.
Celebrating our Learners
The following quotes from current and former program participants help to highlight our growth, tell our story and celebrate their accomplishments of our learners over the past two decades. We hope you will join us in celebrating our learners’ achievements and success.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Earl Munoz
Earl Muñoz shares how the Education Fund eliminated financial barriers, enabling him to pursue his Surgical Tech program while balancing work and school, and supporting his career growth.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Desiree Felix
Desiree Felix’s story highlights how the Education Fund supported her journey toward becoming a NICU Nurse, providing tuition assistance and flexible learning options, ultimately leading to a 48.5% wage increase.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Di Wei
Di Wei’s story highlights how the Education Fund supported her pursuit of a Registered Nurse career, ultimately leading to her graduation with a 4.0 GPA.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Teresa Mendoza
Teresa Mendoza’s story highlights how the Education Fund supported her pursuit of a sterile processing certification, covering all course-related expenses and allowing her to focus on her studies.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Alexander Saechao
Alexander Saechao’s story highlights how the Education Fund supported him through nursing school, ultimately leading to a successful career with a significant wage increase.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Gabriela Garcia
Gabriela Garcia’s story shows how the Education Fund helped her work towards her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse while balancing work and furthering her education.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Letonia Watson
Letonia Watson’s story highlights how the Education Fund helped her become a certified medical assistant, improving her career and personal life by providing better financial stability for her family.
Learner Achievement – Kevin Baptiste
The Education Fund supported Kevin’s career shift from dialysis technician to CNA, providing personalized training and guidance for his professional growth.
Why I love the Ed Fund – LaQuinta Hall
LaQuinta Hall from Dignity Health Nevada shares how the Education Fund helped reduce stress, led to a promotion, and supported her career goals.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Rafael Monarrez
Learn how Rafael Monarrez at Kaiser Permanente LA used the Education Fund to enhance his self-improvement journey.
A Look Back with Roberto Ramirez
Take a look at Roberto Ramirez’s success story from our 2013 Annual Report.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Kamille Epps
Kamille Epps reflects on how the Education Fund supported her journey to becoming an RN.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Sabrina Shelton
Sabrina Shelton highlights how the Education Fund transformed her career, enabling her to become a Medical Assistant.
Learner Achievement – Eric De Cham
Eric shares his journey from LVN to RN, emphasizing the Education Fund’s crucial role in his career success and encouraging others not to give up.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Danielle Escobar
Danielle Escobar shares how the Education Fund was life-changing in her journey to becoming an LVN.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Brittany Macaulay
Brittany Macaulay highlights how the Education Fund’s monthly support was crucial in her journey of self-improvement.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Samantha Frye
With the help of the Education Fund, Samantha’s dream of becoming a nurse has come true.
Ed Fund Time Capsule
From our 2010 Annual Report, these success stories are a blast from the past.
Learner Achievement – Janet Cordova
We spotlight Janet Cordova’s remarkable journey from Emergency Room Technician to Unit Assistant at Kaiser Permanente.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Shyndona Dickerson
Read what Shyndona Dickerson had to say about her Ed Fund benefits.
Learner Achievement – Nancy Espino
With the Education Fund, Nancy found the encouragement she needed to begin fulfilling her personal and professional goals.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Stephanie Goins
Read the advice Stephanie Goins gives to her peers about taking advantage of their Education Fund benefits.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Amanda Bernal
Amanda Bernal took advantage of her Ed Fund benefits to ease her financial burdens and pursue education without stress.
A Look Back with Jevry Norimarna
Take a look at a success story from our 2012 Annual Report.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Ann Wallace
Supporting members like Ann Wallace in reaching their career goals.
Revisit our Coder Apprenticeship Program
As we mark the twentieth anniversary of the Education Fund, we’re proud to re-share an inspiring video featuring the story of member Sally Rozenblad’s transformative journey through the Education Fund’s Coder Apprenticeship Program.
Learner Achievement – Kristy Spencer
Ed Fund member Kristy Spencer was working as a Medical Assistant at Kaiser Permanente Skyline in Oregon with dreams of moving up in her healthcare career.
Why I Love the Ed Fund – Andrea Sealy
When asked how we assisted Andrea Sealy in working towards her goal of becoming an LVN, she expressed these kind words.
How Far We’ve Come
What better way to celebrate our 20th anniversary than taking a look at how far we’ve come? This peek into the Education Fund’s 2009-2010 annual report shares some of the amazing things we’ve been able to accomplish over the years.
Why I love the Ed Fund – Arkesha Elliott
Leveraging the Education Fund’s tuition reimbursement through the College Courses program, Arkesha advanced her career by fulfilling prerequisites for nursing and allied health fields.