Jan 7, 2025 | 20th Anniversary
“I’m so happy the Ed Fund is available so I don’t have to pay loans or take on financial hardship to go to school and improve myself.”
As we continue to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Education Fund, we’re sharing this 2023 testimonial of Earl Muñoz from St. Mary’s Long Beach. Earl, an EVS Aid, made a career change from driving to healthcare, and he took advantage of his Education Fund benefits to work towards his goal of becoming a Surgical Tech. After learning about the Education Fund from his co-worker Selene, Earl was able to enroll in school full-time, covering his tuition and textbook expenses without financial strain. With the help of the Education Fund, Earl was able to focus on his studies while balancing work. He encourages others to take advantage of the opportunities the Fund offers. Earl’s dedication to both his education and his job reflects his gratitude for the support he’s received and his desire to give back to his hospital community.
Jan 7, 2025 | 20th Anniversary
“The Education Fund helped me pay a portion of my studies via the Tuition Support Program, and the flexibility it offered allowed me to take critical courses online.”
In celebration of the Education Fund’s 20th anniversary, we’re sharing stories of the Ed Fund’s profound impact on our members’ lives through the years. Desiree Felix, a NICU Nurse at Dignity Health Northridge, has worked in hospitals since she was 19 years old. As a mother of four, Desiree’s decision to return to school later in life was driven by her desire to do more for her family and the patients she cared for. After years as a Hospital Unit Secretary, she decided to pursue a nursing career. With the support of the Education Fund, Desiree completed her Nursing degree, using the Tuition Support program to help with costs and taking online classes to accommodate her busy life. Since becoming a nurse, Desiree has seen her career flourish, including a 48.5% wage increase. Now, as a NICU nurse, she continues to share her success story with her co-workers, encouraging them to take advantage of the Education Fund’s resources. Desiree’s next goal is to become a NICU supervisor and continue to inspire others in the field.
Jan 7, 2025 | 20th Anniversary
“The Education Fund helped me with tuition and textbook expenses, and provided me with wage replacement so I could reduce my work schedule and focus on my studies.”
For our 20th anniversary, we’re excited to highlight why our members love the Education Fund. Di Wei, an Eye Care Scheduler at Kaiser Permanente, has worked tirelessly toward her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. Despite balancing family responsibilities, including caring for her sick mother, and working full-time, Di graduated from the BSN program at Regis University with a 4.0 GPA. With the support of the Education Fund’s Tuition Support and Wage Replacement programs, Di was able to cover her tuition and textbook costs while also reducing her work schedule to focus on her studies and clinical rotations. As she continues to pursue her RN license, Di is a shining example of how perseverance, determination, and the right resources can make dreams a reality.
Jan 7, 2025 | 20th Anniversary
“What I didn’t have to worry about was how to pay for the course. The Education Fund covered all the course-related expenses upfront.”
In our ongoing series highlighting why our members love the Education Fund, we’re excited to share Teresa Mendoza’s story from 2021. As a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and full-time dental assistant at Kaiser Permanente in Oregon City, Oregon, Teresa didn’t let the challenges of her busy life stop her from pursuing a certification in sterile processing. “I’ve been sterilizing dental instruments my whole career,” Teresa shared, but she recognized the importance of expanding her knowledge as techniques and best practices evolve. With the support of the Education Fund, Teresa was able to enroll in an online sterile processing course, which covered all course-related expenses upfront. Despite late-night study sessions, Teresa passed the tough exam and is now considering her next professional challenge.
Jan 7, 2025 | 20th Anniversary
“The Ed Fund helped with tuition and program costs, as it was difficult to keep up with bills while going through nursing school and only working a few days a week.”
As we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Education Fund, we’re shining a spotlight on twenty reasons people love their Ed Fund benefit. With the support of the Education Fund, Alexander Saechao, a Certified Sterile Processing Tech at Mercy Medical Center Redding, was able to manage his living expenses and cover mandatory program requirements during nursing school. He has since completed his program, passed the NCLEX, and accepted an offer to stay with his current employer, resulting in a wage increase from $34/hr to $46/hr.
