UNMC
University of Nebraska Medical Center nursing student Nolan Parks knows firsthand the difference a scholarship can make.
He works part time as a certified nursing assistant at Nebraska Medicine and lives with his parents in Elkhorn to save money. Still, he was worried he would need to take out student loans to finish his Bachelor of Science in Nursing. So, he was incredibly grateful to learn he was the recipient of the Sharon Bonham Holyoke Nursing Scholarship.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for providing me with the means to finish college,” said Parks, a senior who plans to work in the Nebraska Medicine ICU after graduation. “This is a gift which I will never forget, one which I will remember each time I clock in and every time I receive that heartwarming feeling of discharging a patient who has made a full recovery.”
Raising funds for student scholarships is one of the many priorities of For the Greater Good, a 24-hour giving day to support UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. From noon-to-noon March 26-27, 2025, gifts may be made online at greatergoodgivingday.org to fuel the future of health care in Nebraska.
“Giving, no matter the amount, has the power to transform lives,” said UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD. “Every dollar an individual gives during For the Greater Good supports scholarships, student groups, patient care and groundbreaking research that shapes the future in the areas about which they are most passionate. This is our chance to make a difference, and I invite everyone to be part of something truly meaningful.”
Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder, MD, said, “We are surrounded by examples of how our generous supporters have made positive impacts on the care we provide and the research we conduct. Even relatively small donations add up quickly and help people feel even more connected to that important work.”
Supporters have committed more than $200,000 for challenges and matching gifts to encourage others to give. Donors can maximize their gifts by supporting these funds.
One of the challenges was established by College of Nursing alumna Sharon Bonham Holyoke of Omaha, a 1966 graduate and retired longtime nursing faculty member. If 250 donors give to the College of Nursing, $25,000 will be unlocked to support nursing scholarships. Two other challenges support the Nebraska Medicine Newborn Intensive Care Unit, which has been providing specialized care to infants and their families since 1968.
The goal of the 2025 giving day is 2,100 gifts. Anyone who makes a gift totaling $75 or more will receive a UNMC and Nebraska Medicine custom hat. Supporters are encouraged to share on social media why UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are important to them, using the hashtag #GreaterGoodGivingDay.
Several other important causes will benefit from the third annual day of giving, including:
• a variety of departmental funds within Nebraska Medicine, supporting fields such as nursing development and patient support. One of those is the Transplant Patient and Family Assistance Fund, which provides crucial support to transplant patients and their families facing financial challenges by helping with the costs of travel, lodging, rent, utilities and other expenses;
• more than 40 registered student organizations within UNMC, assisting in reducing operational costs and enhancing students’ experiences on campus; and
• more than a dozen scholarship funds aimed at investing in the next generation of Nebraska’s health care professionals, including for the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Allied Health Professions, Public Health, Medicine and Nursing.
Learn more and track the giving day’s progress at greatergoodgivingday.org.