Henry Ford Jackson Hospital Awarded Largest Endowment to Date - $5M for Workforce Initiative

JACKSON, Mich. -- Henry Ford Jackson Hospital will soon create a workforce development scholarship fund that stands to generate meaningful opportunities in healthcare for area students, thanks to a record-setting $5 million endowment from Alro Steel and the family of its founder Al Glick. In collaboration with Spring Arbor University, Jackson College and several other local and regional partners, scholarships will provide educational opportunities for community members who want to build careers in healthcare. An announcement will go out when scholarship applications are available. 

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to Alro Steel and the Glick family for this exceptional and impactful gift,” said Emily Moorhead, President of Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. “With healthcare workers in short supply here and around the country, Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, our patients and their families will greatly benefit from cultivating a talent pipeline powered by the people of our own community. This endowment will allow us to champion the aspirations and potential of local young people and adults and open doors to rewarding healthcare careers right here in Jackson.” 

The endowment will ensure that approximately $250,000 in scholarships will be awarded annually. Over the first five years that could translate to 180 individual scholarships for:

• Students seeking certification as a registered nurse, a medical assistant or a surgical technician. Upon completion of certification, recipients will fulfil a two-year requirement of employment at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. 
• Tuition for a weeklong day camp experience for middle school students to explore careers in healthcare. The camp is in partnership with the Jackson Area Career Center and the Jackson County Intermediate School District.  

In 2022, Mr. Glick and his family were grateful for the care he received at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital during the final weeks of his life. It was during that time Mr. Glick became aware of the great need for a healthcare workforce pipeline in Jackson. As a result, he directed his family and foundations to bring together community collaborators to develop a plan to address the need for more healthcare workers.

“We were already well into planning and implementing a workforce initiative with community partners when we were given an opportunity to share our vision for healthcare careers in Jackson with the Glick family. We were thrilled when they asked us to submit a proposal to show the forecasted impact of our collaboration,” said Cindy Harrison, Vice President of Human Resources at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. “Alro Steel’s generous endowment, along with our community partnerships, will empower us to transform the future of healthcare and economic development in Jackson, focused on creating a more diverse healthcare workforce that mirrors our local population.”

MEDIA CONTACTS: mediarelations@hfhs.org