Tom Mersch, Patricia Anastasio, Michael Dennis, Bonnie Kaye, Jon Kaye and Maurice Plough.
Generating a record-breaking $600,000 in scholarship funds to support the newest class of medical students at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, the College’s annual White Coats-4-Care major scholarship fundraiser was hosted at the new Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence.
“Recognizing that raising medical scholarship funds is an essential mission, it was especially poignant and inspiring to gather again as a community after nearly two years of pandemic impact,” shared Co-Chair Bonnie Kaye, who with Kaye Communications partner Jon Kaye has co-chaired WC4C for 11 consecutive years since its inception.
With the average cost of a medical education reaching $250,000 in-state to $400,000 out-of-state, 80-85% of the college’s students require financial assistance. Heavy debt often impacts both a student’s choice of medical school as well as their medical specialty based on its income potential to repay loans. “Scholarship monies raised through the annual White Coats-4-Care initiative give students the ability to follow their hearts, not their debts, into lifelong medical careers,” noted Co-chair Jon Kaye. Since its inaugural reception, White Coats-4-Care has raised more than $1.5 million.
This year Ann and John Wood committed $400,000 to support 10 medical students in the Class of 2025 as part of the inaugural year of the Robert A. Wood FAU Medical Scholars Fund. This visionary fund will support these deserving students through all 4 years of medical school. They will double their commitment for next summer’s incoming class of 2026 to total $800,000 to support 20 medical students for all four years.
“It is because of the generosity and dedication of our community, we can continue to attract the best and brightest medical students from a diverse array of backgrounds, and deliver on our mission of advancing the health and well-being of our community by training future generations of humanistic physicians,” shared Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Interim Dean Sarah Wood, M.D.
For more information call 561-297-4243.