Dec. 2025

Investing in the Future of Care

On December 2, 2025 by Gina DiMaggio

In 2025, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation awarded $55,000 in scholarships to 23 students pursuing careers in aging services — a record high.

That generosity was matched by the enthusiasm of our community in our annual golf tournament, which helped raise $59,000 for the 2026 scholarship year, another new milestone.

Since 2014, the Foundation has awarded $327,000 in scholarships, supporting more than a decade of career growth, leadership development, and workforce stability across Minnesota’s aging services sector.

Our scholarship recipients embody commitment, compassion, and excellence in care. Their journeys remind us that when we invest in people, we invest in the future of aging services.

Scholar Spotlight: Mathew’s Journey

When Mathew walks into Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s in Wabasha each morning, he knows he’s not just entering a workplace, but people’s homes. This motivates him to provide top care and support for those he’s there to serve.

As a Registered Nurse in long-term care, Mathew advocates every day for residents to ensure their needs and rights are met. He supervises LPNs and CNAs, coordinates care plans, and is often the voice that brings families, providers, and residents together around the same goal: safe, compassionate care that enables older adults to live with dignity and respect.

But just a few years ago, this future seemed uncertain. While nursing school promised opportunity, the threat of financial strain loomed large. Mathew recalls, “The scholarship helped me during nursing school by reducing financial stress. It allowed me to focus on studying instead of worrying about tuition or bills. It also raised my confidence and motivation, showing that my hard work was recognized.”

Receiving LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation scholarships three years in a row gave Mathew more than financial support—it gave him momentum. With the Foundation’s help, he completed advanced training in mental health and crisis intervention, geriatric and dementia care, and emergency simulation labs. Those experiences strengthened his clinical skills and deepened his confidence in managing complex care situations.

Today, Mathew is a nurse leader—mentoring others, shaping care standards, and ensuring dignity for every resident he serves.

“Looking back,” he says, “the scholarships didn’t just help me pay for school. They helped me become the nurse I am today.”