A gift of $50,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation will benefit
the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Ken
Morehead a resident of Big Lake, Mo, and a native of Falls City, Neb.,
has made the gift commitment to the Kenneth E. Morehead Development Fund,
a fund that he established in 1988 that is now valued at more than $150,000.
This fund will provide support for the areas of greatest need, including
nursing education and research at UNMC.
Morehead, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumnus and former
Lincoln and Omaha automobile dealer, has served as a NU Foundation trustee
since 1996. He is a longtime supporter of NU athletics, and began supporting
UNMC and the College of Nursing in 1988 after receiving care at University
Hospital/Nebraska Health System.
“I’ve always felt extremely comfortable at UNMC,” Morehead said.
“It is a world-class health-care center with an exceptional medical staff.”
Ada Lindsey, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, said
she was grateful Morehead recognized the importance of nurses in health
care. “Nurses provide the continuous care that is essential for hospitalized
patients, she said.
Rather than specifying a certain area for funding, Moreheads gift allows
the fund to be used at the deans discretion.
This gift will allow us to support new initiatives and projects, Dr.
Lindsey said. It is really a forward thinking way of giving that will
provide funding to future priorities that are not in sight today.
I have always been very proud of our state and university, and
I have enjoyed supporting the academic and athletic departments through
the NU Foundation, said Morehead. “I hope that by supporting UNMC, I can
help others.”
The NU Foundation is a non-profit corporation supplementing support
for students, faculty, facilities and programs at the University of Nebraskas
four campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and other
foundations.
The UNMC College of Nursing is the largest nursing college in the state
with campuses in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff. It is the only
nursing program in the state offering bachelors, masters and doctoral
degrees.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than $27 million in
research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually.
In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.