New Scholarship for Area Nursing Students Inspired by Community Event Celebrating Hospital Staff

(Geneva, NY) A weekend celebrating and recognizing nurses, aides, techs and everyone at Geneva General Hospital who care for patients has led to the creation of a new scholarship for area students studying to become registered nurses at Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences, located on the campus of Geneva General Hospital.

On August 21 and 22, The Station on Lake Street in Geneva hosted “Hug an Angel,” a community event to recognize and celebrate the nurses, physicians, and healthcare staff whose compassion and commitment make a difference in the lives of patients and families every day. Gerry Collins, who operates Stubby’s Caboose in partnership with the Station, was so grateful for the care he received at the hospital following a car accident, he created the event with The Station owner Bob Stivers. They offered staff free food, live music, boat tours, games and gratitude and invited the community to come and “Hug an Angel.” 

Bob Stivers and his wife, Donna, took the event a step further, hoping to help create new “angels” with a new nursing scholarship opportunity for students from eastern Ontario, Yates and Seneca counties. 

“It’s important to invest in the next generation of nurses who will strengthen and serve our local community with compassion and skill,” says Stivers. “My hope is that it will help aspiring nurses to achieve that goal here in Geneva and embark on a successful career.”

“On behalf of Finger Lakes Health, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Bob and Donna Stivers for their generosity and vision in establishing the Donna and Bob Stivers Scholarship Fund,” says University of Rochester Medicine Finger Lakes Health President and CEO, Jose Acevedo, MD.  "Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, providing compassionate, skilled care that touches countless lives every day. By investing in aspiring nurses from Ontario, Yates, and Seneca counties, the Stivers family is helping strengthen the future of healthcare in our region. Their commitment will create opportunities for students, support our local workforce, and leave a lasting legacy that will benefit patients and families for generations to come."

To support the Donna and Bob Stivers Scholarship Fund, donate online at https://t.ly/AAczj or send a check to Finger Lakes Health Foundation, 196 North Street, Geneva, NY 14456. Please indicate that the donation should be directed to the scholarship fund. 

About the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Located in Geneva, New York, on the Geneva General Hospital Campus and part of Finger Lakes Health System, the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences, a private, not for profit academic institution, was established in 2008 by a small group of nurses who shared the same vision and dedication as its parent organization to meeting the healthcare needs of the rural community of the Finger Lakes. The College prepares skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals to serve the healthcare needs of the region and beyond through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on clinical training and equips students to deliver exceptional patient care and leadership.

PHOTO CREDIT:  (Geneva, NY)  Geneva businessman Bob Stivers, University of Rochester Medicine Finger Lakes Health President and CEO Jose Acevedo, MD and Gerry Collins on Aug. 21 at The Station in Geneva for “Hug an Angel,” a 2-day event hosted by Stivers brought the community together to recognize and celebrate the hospital’s healthcare staff. At the event Dr. Acevedo announced the new Donna and Bob Stivers Scholarship for nursing students from Ontario, Yates and Seneca counties.