POTTSTOWN PA – The memory of Diana Smith, a former school nurse who worked in the Boyertown Area School District for 20 years, is being honored by her family and friends. Citing her “remarkable legacy of service,” they have created a loan fund to financially assist in the education of nursing students.
Establishment of the “Behavioral Health/Registered Nurse Student Loan Assistance Fund, in memory of beloved School Nurse Diana Smith” was announced Tuesday (Oct. 1, 2024). It was launched by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, in collaboration with Creative Health Services, and a partnership with the Smith family.
The loan fund “is designed to support and retain skilled nurses and behavioral health professionals” in the greater Boyertown and Tri-County areas, according to the foundation. Its opening occurs amid what the foundation describes as “national behavioral health crisis and healthcare shortage.”
A first of its kind initiative
This is “the first fund of its kind in our region to bring awareness to behavioral health, as well as provide opportunities for our nursing and counselor workforce,” Pottstown Area Health & Wellness President Dave Kraybill reports. “It has truly been a privilege to work with the Smith Family to honor Diana and to keep her memory alive.” She passed away in 2021.
“Diana’s greatest commitment was to her students and the youth in Boyertown,” her husband, Doug, says. “Her caring nature made a lasting impact.” Creation of the fund, the foundation indicates, represents its “dedication to supporting those who contribute to the well-being of our community.”
Diana Smith’s influence extended well beyond Boyertown classrooms, those who knew her say. She served as a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday School educator, and a youth leader volunteering with several local organizations. Her involvement in faith-driven mission trips, and community activities, made a significant impact … particularly on the youths she cherished, they add.
Details of the loan fund program
The fund aims to attract and retain qualified behavioral health workers and registered nurses. The application period opened Monday (Sept. 30), and is scheduled to end Oct. 30 (Wednesday). An online application form is available now.
- To be eligible, applicants must hold a graduate degree in behavioral health, or be credentialed as a registered nurse, with a minimum of $10,000 in student loan debt;
- A total of $3,000 will be awarded and distributed over a two-year period ($1,500 initially, and $1,500 after one year);
- Recipients must commit to working in the greater Boyertown, Tri-County area for at least two years;
- Preference will be given to those working in the Boyertown Area School District and Creative Health Services, including roles such as behavioral health counselor, registered nurse, and school nurse;
- Recipients will be announced by Dec. 1 (Sunday);
- Those interested in applying should start with the online form; and
- For assistance or inquiries about the program, send an e-mail to Sheri Waldman at swaldman@pottstownfoundation.org, or call 610-232-2006, Extension 23.
Outside donations also welcomed
Anyone interested in creating a lasting impact by making their own contributions to the fund are encouraged to see its online donations page.
The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation is a community-focused organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of residents within a 10-mile radius of Pottstown PA. Through strategic partnerships and grant-making, the foundation invests in programs that promote youth development, health equity, and wellness initiatives in the region.
Photos of Diana Smith provided to Travels With The Post
by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
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