Robert B. Wegman, chairman of Wegmans Food Markets Inc., has given $8 million to St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, money that will be used to fund a nursing school.
According to a Jan. 12 school statement, Wegman’s gift is the largest in Fisher’s history. It comes on top of a $5 million gift last year from Wegman to create a pharmacy school, which is slated to open next fall.
The proposed nursing school will be called the Wegmans School of Nursing. The school will include its own dean, department chairs and faculty. A building will be constructed to house the proposed school to accommodate the anticipated growth.
“I am very pleased that St. John Fisher College has chosen to use this gift for the creation of a School of Nursing,” Wegman said in a statement. “I am concerned about the future of health care, particularly the cost, and believe that addressing the nursing shortage is an important goal. I also see this as an investment in our community, since many St. John Fisher College students stay in the Rochester area after graduating.”
Donald E. Bain, president of St. John Fisher College, expressed gratitude for Wegman’s gift.
“His gift will enable us to expand our nursing program and make a significant contribution to the delivery of health care in the region,” Bain said in a statement. “This adds enormously to our goal of providing professional opportunities for our students while serving the Rochester community.”
For information about the nursing program at Fisher, visit http://home.sjfc.edu/Nursing/.
