The representatives of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation
toured both campuses during the week of Dec. 2 as part of their
annual visit to the University of the Virgin Islands. The Benjamin
Foundation donated more than $62,000 to UVI's School of Nursing in
2012, and nearly $800,000 since 1992.
Benjamin Foundation Executive Director and Board Secretary David
Beale and Foundation Administrator and Grant Coordinator Tina Beale
met with UVI President Dr. David Hall, Interim Provost Dr. Camille
McKayle, and Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Cheryl Franklin
while touring nursing laboratories and student health services
buildings on both campuses. Each of the nursing school sites
contains equipment, learning materials, videos, computers and
assessment materials funded by the foundation. Each of the student
health services clinics were previously refurbished with the help
of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation.
This year's $62,000 donation was used to purchase training
software, equipment and videos for the School of Nursing, and for
nursing students to attend a Health Disparities Conference in
October.
"David and Tina are pleased with the selection of new equipment we
have integrated into our learning curriculum within the School of
Nursing," UVI Major Gifts Director Mitchell Neaves said. "The
state-of-the-art simulators and video library were made possible
from the generosity of the foundation."
The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation, formed by St. Croix
native and nationally acclaimed songwriter Claude "Bennie"
Benjamin, made its first donation to UVI in 1992 for medical school
scholarships for UVI graduates. In 1995, the foundation gave a
grant to support the Watlington Health Services Unit Refurbishment,
followed a year later with a large donation to replace medical and
science books in the UVI library after Hurricane Marilyn. In the
past 17 years, the foundation donated more than $779,000 in
scholarships and support to the nursing program and to support UVI
graduates attending medical school.
David Beale praised the University's Nursing Program for preparing
well-trained professional nurses to provide high-level nursing care
in the territory. "It was Bennie's dream that the people of the
Virgin Islands receive the highest quality medical care," He said.
"Through our partnership with UVI and the University's partnership
with the hospitals on St. Thomas and St. Croix, the University is
helping to fulfill Bennie's dream and the mandate of the
foundation. Bennie never forgot where he came from and we hope to
impart that message to the students of today who are preparing for
careers in the health services."
The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has also donated
approximately $270,000 to the Schneider Regional Medical Center and
the Juan Luis Hospital for support of the Benjamin Foundation's
Student Nurse Extern Program, which provides training to UVI
Nursing students and prepares those students to easily adapt to the
hospital setting once they are licensed.
Neaves said that the goal of the Student Extern Program is to
retain registered nurses that have graduated from UVI and that
there is currently a 90 percent retention rate for those students
who participated in the program.
"The Benjamin Foundation's on-going support for the University has
provided resources that would otherwise be unavailable to our
faculty and students," said Neaves. "Each gift received from the
Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation makes UVI a very attractive
University for aspiring clinical healthcare professionals."
David Beale said that the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation's
goal is for the territory to have the best medical facilities, the
latest technology and equipment and the best trained healthcare
professionals.
"We are in a much better place today because of the long-term,
incremental support we receive from the Bennie and Martha
Foundation," Neaves said.
For additional information on making a gift to UVI, contact
Mitchell A. Neaves at (340) 693-1040 or mneaves@uvi.edu.
UVI Internet