An endowment is being established through the St. Claire Foundation to honor the nurses and aides who cared for the late Bertha Ross “Poage” Hough during the final year prior to her passing in January 2013.
“Bertha’s Fund” will generate financial assistance for staff members at St. Claire Regional Medical Center and the Elliott County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as individuals affiliated with Sarah’s Place in Sandy Hook. More specifically, the intent is to assist individuals who are pursuing one of the following degrees or certifications: Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The endowment is being established to honor those who went “above and beyond the call of duty and exceeded expectations each and every day” in caring for Mrs. Hough, said St. Claire Foundation Executive Director Tom Lewis.
“The endowment will serve as a reminder to those who provide minute-to-minute care for patients that what they do to ease the pain, bring a smile or brighten a day really matters. Their day-to-day actions really make a difference in the lives of those they serve,” Lewis said.
“The nurses and aides cared for Mrs. Hough with the utmost compassion and kindness. We are told that time after time, those care providers would put aside their own difficulties, and even tragedies, to care for Mrs. Hough and others, truly putting others before themselves. This endowment is being established because of their efforts. This endowment is truly their fund,” added Lewis.
More details – including applicant requirements, award amounts and how and when to apply for assistance from “Bertha’s Fund” – will soon be announced internally at St. Claire Regional, Elliott County Nursing and Rehabilitation and Sarah’s Place.
Mrs. Hough, a longtime resident of Morehead, resided since 1993 in Augusta, KY. She passed away at the Elliott County facility after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
The St. Claire Foundation was established in 2000 as SCR’s fundraising arm.
For information on how to make a gift to the Foundation, call (606) 783-6512, email at: telewis@st-claire.org, or visit online at: http://st-claire.org and click on the Online Donations link.
(story provided by St. Claire Regional Medical Center)
