STOCK PHOTO
Lee Health has awarded the 2026 Ain Heart of Caring Scholarship to four Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and one Emergency Department Technician, all of whom are currently pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and have worked for the system for 12 months or more. The scholarship recognizes Lee Health team members who demonstrate compassion, dedication to patient care, and a commitment to advancing their careers in healthcare. The ceremony took place in February at Lee Health Education Training & Development Center.
The Ain Heart of Caring Scholarship was established by Mark and Carolyn Ain in 2014 after Mark was hospitalized at Gulf Coast Medical Center and relied on the compassionate care of physicians and nursing staff to help him heal. To date, 28 CNAs at Lee Health have been awarded these scholarships. The scholarship pays for certain expenses required for a BSN degree, including application fees, tuition, books and other college fees.
“It is our honor to continue this wonderful legacy started by our father and stepmom, Mark and Carolyn Ain,” said Adam Ain, son of the late philanthropists. “Our father personally benefited from the exceptional care from Lee Health CNAs, and it was a personal passion of theirs to invest in workforce development programs to help talented, driven, and caring people progress in their careers. We are inspired by this year’s recipients of the award and all recipients of the award to date.”
2026 Ain Heart of Caring Scholarship recipients:
Lougena Jordan
Gulf Coast Medical Center
Jordan is currently pursuing her nursing degree at Rasmussen University and will graduate in March 2026. Her goal is to become an Emergency Department nurse, where she hopes to make a meaningful impact on the community.
Ashley Pollitt
Lee Memorial Hospital
Pollitt is currently pursuing her nursing degree at Keiser University and will graduate in August 2026. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing will be Pollitt’s second bachelor’s degree, and she looks forward to being a Registered Nurse at Lee Memorial Hospital.
Arianna Manrique
Golisano Children’s Hospital
Manrique is on the Neonatal ICU team at Golisano Children’s Hospital. This scholarship has allowed her to focus more on her studies in nursing school and has strengthened Manrique’s commitment to becoming a compassionate and dedicated nurse at Lee Health.
Vera Perovskaya
HealthPark Medical Center
Perovskaya currently works in the Emergency Department at HealthPark Medical Center. She is in nursing school where she remains committed to advancing her education, strengthening her clinical skills, and continuing to serve patients with compassion and excellence.
Sherley Santiago
HealthPark Medical Center
Santiago is currently a CNA at HealthPark Medical Center and is attending nursing school. After a personal experience left a profound impact on Santiago, she decided to dedicate her career to healthcare, where she can give back to Lee Health patients the same way compassionate caregivers once supported her and her family.
“As a nurse myself, I am so moved by the ripples of impact this gift has made on countless lives of patients, families and our team members who have benefited from the generosity of the Ain family,” said Jen Higgins, chief nursing officer at Lee Health. “We will never be able to express how much this gift has transformed opportunity into changing countless lives that will be felt for generations to come.”
Through Mark Ain’s gifts to Lee Health, the scholarship program is endowed in perpetuity. The program reinforces Lee Health’s commitment to developing and retaining exceptional healthcare professionals for the betterment of its community.
About Lee Health Foundation
Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic support on behalf of community-focused nonprofit Lee Health to establish, expand, and enhance lifesaving and preventive programs in Southwest Florida. Contributions to the Foundation benefit all five Lee Health hospitals and specialty services. In the past year, the Foundation provided over $34 million in funding to enhance patient care throughout the region. Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida.