FORT PIERCE\u2014 The Indian River State College Foundation today launched 60 for 60 \u2013 Celebrating 60 Years of River Nurses, a philanthropic campaign honoring six decades of nursing education at The River. The campaign invites nursing alumni from every generation to give back. Every dollar will support nursing faculty development, teaching innovation, and program excellence.<\/p>\n
Indian River State College nursing students practice patient care techniques in the college\u2019s state-of-the-art simulation lab, gaining hands-on clinical experience that prepares them for careers on the frontlines of healthcare.<\/p>\n
The River\u2019s Associate Degree in Nursing program ranks among the largest producers of registered nurses in the four-county Treasure Coast region. Founded in August 1965 at the College\u2019s Massey Campus in Fort Pierce, the program has sent thousands of River nurses into the region\u2019s hospitals, clinics, and communities. Today, patients at Martin Health, Cleveland Clinic Martin, HCA Lawnwood Regional, and virtually any healthcare facility on the Treasure Coast will find a River-trained nurse at the bedside.<\/p>\n
\u201cSixty years ago, we launched this program with one purpose: to support the health of our community by building a high-quality nursing workforce,\u201d said Dr. Patty Gagliano, Executive Dean of Health and Human Sciences, Indian River State College. \u201cEvery generation of River nurses since has honored that promise. The 60 for 60 campaign helps make certain the next generation has everything they need to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Central to the modern program is a simulation center that mirrors an actual acute care nursing unit. The facility holds 11 patient rooms, each stocked with the same equipment students will encounter in regional hospitals. Walking down one of its four hallways, a visitor sees the same sightlines, hears the same alarms, and touches the same instruments found on any hospital floor. Students move through scenarios spanning birth to hospice care \u2014 all in a controlled environment \u2014 before they set foot on a live unit. The result is a graduate who arrives on the floor confident and ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I meet with our healthcare partners across the region, I hear the same thing: hiring a River nurse means hiring a quality employee \u2014 someone who stays, who contributes, and who is ready for the full spectrum of patient care,\u201d said Annabel Robertson, JD, CFRE, Indian River State College Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director. \u201cThat reputation took 60 years to build. The 60 for 60 campaign is how we carry it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Answering a Regional and National Imperative<\/p>\n
The 60 for 60 campaign arrives amid a well-documented national nursing shortage. The River moved quickly to respond. Under the leadership of College President Dr. Timothy E. Moore, The River expanded enrollment and program capacity after healthcare employers across the Treasure Coast reported workforce gaps. As a result, The River now stands as one of the region\u2019s most critical pipelines for nursing talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nursing shortage is not abstract here \u2014 our neighbors and our healthcare system feel it every day. The River has answered that call for 60 years, and we intend to keep answering it,\u201d said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President. \u201cThe 60 for 60 campaign is about equipping our faculty \u2014 the true architects of every River Nurse \u2014 with the development and resources they need to stay at the forefront of nursing education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, The River draws on a robust advisory council to keep the curriculum current. Chief nursing officers, floor nurses, long-term care specialists, and public health professionals sit on that council. Their guidance has helped The River produce nurses who arrive at work better prepared than those from competing programs, according to regional hospital partners.<\/p>\n
How the 60 for 60 Campaign Works<\/p>\n
The Indian River State College Foundation structures the campaign around three simple ways to give:<\/p>\n
\u2022 A one-time gift of $60 in honor of 60 years of River Nurses<\/p>\n
\u2022 A recurring gift of $5 per month for one year<\/p>\n
\u2022 A larger philanthropic contribution at any level<\/p>\n
Every gift flows through the Indian River State College Foundation directly to nursing faculty initiatives, covering professional development, teaching innovation, and faculty retention. In short, the money goes to the program instructing every River nurse.<\/p>\n
Beyond financial giving, the campaign offers alumni several ways to stay engaged. River Nurse Spotlight Profiles will highlight graduates\u2019 careers and community impact. Social media and digital outreach will amplify alumni achievements and healthcare leadership. Furthermore, the Indian River State College Foundation will recognize donors at Nursing Graduation Ceremonies and annual recognition events, and will publish a 60 for 60 Honor Roll acknowledging every participant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe River Nurse alumni network is one of our most powerful assets. These are men and women who have spent careers serving the Treasure Coast,\u201d said Robertson. \u201cThey carry an identity \u2014 River Nurse \u2014 that means something to every hospital, clinic, and healthcare system in this region. The 60 for 60 campaign gives that community a chance to come together, celebrate how far we\u2019ve come, and invest in what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n
How to Give<\/p>\n
Alumni, community members, and supporters can join the 60 for 60 campaign by giving online at https:\/\/giving.irsc.edu\/<\/a>, or by contacting Jamar Belizaire, Senior Director of Development, at 781-502-1071 or jbelizaire1@irsc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n