NewBridge on the Charles and Orchard Cove Residents Fund 40 Educational Scholarships for Staff

Residents at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA, and Orchard Cove in Canton, MA, two Hebrew SeniorLife living communities, have funded and awarded nearly $198,425 in educational scholarships to 40 staff members this year. Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and a Harvard Medical School affiliate with eight communities around Greater Boston, is recognized among Boston’s Top Places to Work.

Residents at each community raise funds and review applications from eligible employees to support their educational aspirations. Since Orchard Cove residents established their program in 2006, and since the NewBridge Scholarship Committee was established in 2019, residents have raised $1,353,425 to support more than 416 and 184 employees, respectively. These funds are in addition to grants and scholarships provided to employees by Hebrew SeniorLife.

This year, the NewBridge Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to 24 employees, and the Orchard Cove Scholarship Committee supported 16 employees. Scholarship recipients work in many different job roles and divisions, including culinary, fitness, security, and nursing.

The scholarships will help employees pursue their education in a range of majors at nearly 30 colleges and universities, including Babson College, Bridgewater State University, Dean College, Fordham University, Franklin Pierce University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Massasoit Community College, Northeastern University, Northeastern University School of Law, Salem State University, Southern New Hampshire University, UMass, Union College, University of Wisconsin, Wheaton College, and Worcester State University. Seven Orchard Cove employees have received scholarships in prior years on their way to earning degrees, and other employees recently graduated from Labouré College of Healthcare, UMass Amherst, UMass Lowell, and other schools.

The recipients live across a dozen towns, including Quincy, Milton, and Pawtucket, and multiple residents are from Dedham, Brockton, Stoughton, and Canton.

NewBridge employees receiving scholarships include: Isabella Annatone, Zeruia Antoine, Lucy Blazejewski, Estuline Constant, Kyra Crawford, Alexer Esteban, Jackson Fremont, Emily Gallagher, Esther Guillomaitre, Ishelle Haynes, Natalia Henry, Kayla Jones, Alexandra Lafleur, Michaina Loriston, Carol Martinez, Phaulyshah Occeus, Carly Paul, Noemi Pierre, Jenaya Riphin, Leah Scarpino, Majda Shahini, Alexandra Spyropoulou, Aliany Suarez, and Hadley Winkler.

Orchard Cove employees receiving scholarships include: Damilola Ajanaku, Ife Ajanaku, Christine Appolon, Thoby Bien-Aime, Shayla Cabral, Sproul Derolus, Dharnel Jean-Pierre, Elie Laguerre, Catherine Leal, Jailsa Monteiro, Jamisha Pierre, Alyssa Powers, Sophie Saint Marc, Emily Smith, Janice Tavares, and Elise Weinstein.

“The generosity of our community is one of the things that makes me proud to work here,” said NewBridge at the Charles Executive Director Matt Hollingshead.

Sheila Pallay, a NewBridge at the Charles resident and incoming scholarship fund chair, explained why she believes the program is important: “We take care of each other here at NewBridge.”  

“Education was one of the most important gifts my parents ever gave me … nothing in my career would have been possible without it. However, education doesn’t have to be at a college or university: skills learned in vocational schools keep the economy running and provide well-paying jobs. Several staff members here who started busing tables or as housekeepers have continued to work here in new positions, all because they received small scholarships from the Orchard Cove community. Those staff members who have moved on know that Orchard Cove thought enough of them to help pay their way for the future,” said Terry Levinson of the Orchard Cove Scholarship Committee.

In addition, Hebrew SeniorLife has established tuition discount agreements with Drexel University, Quinnipiac University, Regis College, Regent University, the University of Cincinnati, and other higher-education institutions to offer a wider range of learning opportunities for all employees.

Finally, Hebrew SeniorLife has established the Lunder CareForce Institute, with a mission to grow and strengthen the pipeline of frontline caregivers through hands-on training, wraparound support, and strong partnerships with employers and training sites. While our nurse aide training program launches at our Roslindale campus, we plan to expand to additional locations and introduce a licensed practical nurse program in the coming years — opening more doors to meaningful health care careers and helping meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.

Information about careers at Hebrew SeniorLife is available online.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; Jack Satter House, Revere; and Leyland Community, Dorchester. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $98 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.