The Education Fund 20th Anniversary Timeline 2004-2024

Join us as we reflect on two decades of empowering minds, transforming lives, and making education accessible to all. Explore the following timeline, and then see our 20th Anniversary page celebrating our learners’ achievements.

Shirley Ware Education Center

In honor of the pioneering labor leader Shirley Ware, the Shirley Ware Education Center is established in 1998. SWEC laid the groundwork for the formation of the Education Fund and continues to advance its mission through its affiliation with the Education Fund.

2004

The Education Fund is founded

The SEIU-UHW West & Joint Employer Education Fund (the Education Fund), is established in December 2004 by SEIU-UHW and healthcare employers. A multi-employer benefit trust, the organization begins to provide education and training of union represented employees. The Education Fund works hand-in-hand with SWEC to carry out workforce development made possible by grant funding from private organizations, state governments and other sources.

2005

Kaiser Permanente joins

Kaiser Permanente employees represented by UHW ratify their new contract which guarantees an employer contribution to the Ed Fund to provide healthcare workforce development education and career services to eligible members.

2006

The Stipend/Wage Replacement program is introduced

The Education Fund introduces a stipend program for members enrolled or accepted in a qualifying professional or technical education program. The long-running program, now called Wage Replacement, allows eligible participants of select employer partners to earn compensation for lost wages by adjusting their work schedules to prioritize their education and career growth.

2008

Online Medical Coding program launch

The Education Fund offers an 18-month, 33-credit online Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program through Santa Barbara Community College. This program is designed to prepare students for careers as medical coders in acute care hospitals and other healthcare settings.

2009

The Ed Fund expands

The Education Fund opens an office in Las Vegas, NV.

2009

The beginning of College Courses

The Education Fund transforms the way we provide prerequisite classes through the introduction of our STEP (Success Through Educational Preparation) program, now called College Courses.

2009

Reducing job-related injuries

Through SWEC, we train more than 600 employees and provide 28 classes through a grant from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The training helps homecare workers learn how to reduce job related injuries and stress.

2010

The Education Fund’s counseling impact

The Education Fund supports nearly 5,000 eligible learners through career counseling. The opportunity for eligible members to connect directly and receive tailored career advice continues to be one of the Education Fund’s core services.

2012

Expanding healthcare education online

The Education Fund launches online Intro to Medical Terminology and Intro to Anatomy & Physiology classes through the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences. This marks the start of a key program opportunity that is still going strong today.

2012

The Education Fund’s growing community

A total of 6,860 Education Fund members are enrolled in programs, marking a new record high in utilization for our services.

2014

AYC/Tuition Support program launches

The Advance Your Career (AYC) program launches. Now called Tuition Support, the program offers financial assistance to eligible, accepted members to reimburse them for expenses related to their qualified degree or certificate program. This program immediately becomes one of the most popular Ed Fund programs and remains a signature offering through the present.

2016

Supporting over 10,000 learners

For the first time, The Education Fund surpasses 10,000 learners served in a single year.

2017

First High Road Training Partnerships grant received

We receive our first High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) grant which provides funding to plan and execute academic and professional skill trainings for two cohorts of Environmental Services and Food Services workers who aim to transition into clinical roles.

2018

Supporting over 15,000 learners

For the first time ever, the Education Fund supports more than 15,000 learners within a year.

2018

Cultivating member leadership

The Education Fund launches the Champions Program, now called the Member2Member (M2M) program. This initiative empowers members to promote and recruit co-workers to utilize the Ed Fund’s resources while developing essential leadership skills. M2Ms play a vital role in enhancing member ownership and increasing awareness of educational benefits that can advance careers.

2018

Apprenticeships expand

The Education Fund continues to offer robust apprenticeship programs in coordination with our partner employers and local unions, such as the Ambulatory Coder apprenticeship program in Northern California.

2020

Expanding healthcare education in the Northwest

Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) in Portland, OR ratifies its new contract which guarantees an employer contribution to the Ed Fund to provide healthcare workforce development education and career services to eligible members.

2021

Providing essential resources to learners

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Education Fund achieves a milestone by serving more than 27,000 unique learners. Our already-planned move to online learning enables us to provide essential resources and support during a critical time.

2022

$10 Million grant for public sector expansion

The Shirley Ware Education Center receives the HRTP Resilient Workforce General Fund Program Grant of $10 million to expand into the public sector with SEIU 1021 and SEIU 521. This initiative makes Education Fund programs and services available to a pool of 100,000 eligible participants, providing career pathways, support for prerequisites, American Heart Association certification courses, career counseling and more for non-Education Fund member eligible workers.

2022

Streamlining access to Education Fund services

The MyEdFund member portal launches, simplifying the application process for Education Fund programs and services. This new platform allows eligible members to connect with career counselors, track enrollments, and manage applications—all in one convenient location.

2023

Significant career advancements achieved

A record 594 Education Fund learners transition into new, higher-level jobs with an average 43% wage increase of $14 per hour.

2024

$13 Million grant to support Federally Qualified Health Center and union collaboration​

The Shirley Ware Education Center receives a $13 million High Road Training Partnerships grant to support a statewide effort to upskill workers at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and establish a Labor Management Cooperation Committee between four SEIU locals and six community health centers. The grant runs to mid-2026.

Into the future

The Education Fund continues to grow. While many things have changed over the past 20 years, one constant has been our learners’ achievements and their drive to further their skills and knowledge. Their accomplishments are truly our greatest measure of success and a constant source of inspiration. We look forward to continuing to support them and healthcare workforce development in the years to come.