Sutter Health Awards Half Million in Scholarship Money

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2003 — As part of its efforts to become the model "Employer of Choice," Sutter Health has awarded more than $550,000 in scholarships to 274 children of employees within its not-for-profit network of community-based hospitals and physician organizations. Sutter established the $4 million competitive scholarship fund earlier this year to help students who otherwise might not be able to attend college. Awards ranged from $500 to $4000, with the average being $2,045.

Sutter Scholars was started at a time when students and their families can expect to pay, on average, about $127 to $1,001 more in college tuition and fees than they did in 2002, according to recent reports from the College Board. Applications for the program's annual grants will be accepted once again in spring 2004.

"College costs are up about 6 to 10 percent from last year depending on the type of institution a student selects," said Sutter Health President and CEO Van R. Johnson. "We wanted to do what we could to support students who otherwise might not be able to attend college, and providing our employees with this special opportunity seemed like the best place to start," he said.

Sutter Health is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers, delivering high-quality care in more than 100 Northern California communities. It is also the regional leader in infant deliveries, neonatology, orthopedics and pediatrics services. Sutter Health supports more than two dozen locally run acute care hospitals as well as physician organizations; medical research facilities; regionwide home health, hospice and occupational health networks; and long-term care centers.

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Contact
Karen Garner
(916)286-8297
garnerk@sutterhealth.org