Woman vows to match funds received through Dec. 31

Betty Long, MHA, RN, founder, president and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates and outgoing president of the board of trustees for the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, has made a personal gift of $25,000 to strengthen the organization’s longstanding scholarship fund.

As part of her final year leading the board, Long also committed to match additional donations received through Dec. 31, 2025, up to another $25,000.

Long hopes her gift would inspire others to contribute so the scholarship fund can provide even greater assistance to future nursing students. “As I complete my tenure as board president, I wanted to leave something meaningful that advances nursing education in Pennsylvania,” Long said.

“Investing in the next generation of nursing professionals is essential to the health of our communities, and I hope this encourages others to join me in supporting these students.”

Long’s contribution will be directed to the existing Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania scholarship fund, which supports students enrolled in State Board-approved nursing programs across the Commonwealth.

The fund typically distributes eight scholarships each year to students pursuing education at the diploma, LPN, ADN, BSN, BSN-completion, master’s and doctoral levels (DNP and PhD).

This one-time gift and matching commitment will allow the fund to grow significantly during the current cycle, ultimately providing increased support to recipients in 2026 and beyond.

The Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania is a statewide, nonprofit organization that promotes and supports excellence in nursing through recognition programs and scholarships. Since its founding, it has worked to highlight the dedication and impact of nurses across all practice settings and to provide financial support to students who represent the future of the profession.

Long’s contribution arrives at a time when the nursing workforce continues to confront significant challenges statewide and nationally. In addition to the nursing shortage and increased frequency of acts of violence against healthcare workers, nurses are now being told that their chosen career is no longer classified as “professional.”

“Nursing is not just a job. It is a professional field that requires significant education and training,” added Long. “That is why providing funding for education for aspiring nurses is so important. Strengthening educational pathways for new nurses remains essential to ensuring that hospitals, clinics, long-term care communities, and community-based settings have the talent needed to provide high-quality care.”

For more information about the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania (NAP), visit www.nightingaleawards.org.

To make a donation to the scholarship fund that will be matched by Long (up to $25,000 in total), mail a check made payable to Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania or go online to the NAP website “Support Us” page https://www.nightingaleawards.org/support-us.html and donate by credit card before Dec. 31, 2025.