Gheens Foundation helps provide needed upgrades to UofL nursing classrooms

June 17, 2022

Additional improvements to second-floor classroom spaces at the UofL School of Nursing will be possible because of a $600,000 commitment from the Gheens Foundation. These renovations to the School of Nursing provide students with additional space in classrooms featuring the latest technological tools. 

The gift is part of continued renovation to the building that includes classroom, simulation lab and student lounge upgrades that make the School of Nursing a competitive destination for students.

The School of Nursing provides students with a nursing education experience while attracting and retaining top nursing faculty to guide students through today’s health care challenges. Great cities have great medical complexes, and this project will be a catalyst for the school to create healthier communities. 

“We are so thankful to the Gheens Foundation for their investment in our students, programs and facilities,” said UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Donors like the Gheens Foundation make it possible for the University of Louisville to better prepare our students for promising futures.”

Ellen Tinker, a third-year nursing student has experienced first-hand the impact of donors like the Gheens Foundation. 

“We will be learning, laughing and crying in these spaces,” said Tinker. “As a Cardinal Nurse, I am very grateful for the gifts they contribute to the nest that we have here in the School of Nursing. One of the most important parts of nursing school is the togetherness and collaboration we all get to feel in these newly renovated spaces.” 

After donating $2 million to the university’s strategic plan in 2019, the Gheens Foundation has proven to be an important part of the university and students’ success. The donation was used for many campus improvements, including campus safety and security, employee onboarding, and tools for student recruitment and retention. 

Established in 1957 by philanthropists and entrepreneurs C. Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, the Gheens Foundation has provided more than $130 million in grants to improve the quality of life for the residents of Metropolitan Louisville, particularly in the areas of education and human services. 

“The very existence of The Gheens Foundation is a testament to the legacy of love and generosity of its founders, Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, for the citizens and the institutions of this community,” said Barry G. Allen, president and treasurer of the Gheens Foundation. “I am confident they would be most pleased with the trustees’ decision to make this grant for the benefit of the vital mission of the School of Nursing, especially given the urgency and necessity to attract, recruit and educate the next generations of nurses.” 

The latest donation from the Gheens Foundation adds to the $2.5 million already invested by various donors toward the School of Nursing improvement project.