What is the Jean Hayen Nursing Scholarship Fund?

The Fund

This scholarship fund was created from the seeds of a simple premise; "what would Jean want?"

Jean Ann devoted just about all of her adult life to acting as an advocate for nursing and for quality care. She believed in what she did and was passionate about delivering her message to anyone and everyone that would listen.

After Jean passed away unexpectedly in September of 2006, it didn't take long for those of us close to her to come up with the answer to that question. If there was a way to turn this into an opportunity to help others follow a similar path, then that is absolutely what Jean would want.

Within days of her passing, the idea was born and the initial groundwork laid for the actual mechanics of a scholarship fund in her name. The idea would be to help those individuals that were working hard to achieve their goals in the face of difficult odds.

Jean put herself through nursing school and became an LPN while a single parent and raising her son. Later, she continued to study and eventually became an RN. But she never wanted to be a doctor - she wanted to stay close to the patients. She wanted to stay close to the people that needed the help.

Why the Garden?

Next to nursing, Jean's heart went out to her garden. She spent hours pruning and taking care of it. There always seemed to be just one more thing to do in order to get it "just right."

The garden represents more than just flowers and pretty bird feeders; it represents Jean Ann's commitment to life and to the pursuit of care. Her garden was a natural extension of her personality and of her gentle nature.