Trinity Health Foundation Receives $50,000 Donation

Bettendorf, Iowa – Ascentra Credit Union donated $50,000 to the Trinity Health Foundation to support its Career Pathways Pilot Program. This program combines outreach and navigation to help students currently enrolled in a traditional Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program through a newly created career navigator position.

“The need for a position such as a career navigator is higher than it’s ever been,” said Mary Macumber Schmidt, President, Trinity Health Foundation. “The current and future need for qualified healthcare staff far exceeds the number of individuals who have the required certifications and education.”

Although there are existing programs in place to assist with tuition and other expenses such as childcare and transportation, many feel they are unable to give up their existing job for up to 24 months, the typical time it takes to complete a traditional medical certification program and still make ends meet. “This is a critical roadblock for people with a passion to pursue a career in healthcare,” said Macumber Schmidt.

This career navigator position will play a crucial role in helping students understand all the support and assistance available to them, whether for education, stipends/supplemental income or barrier assistance, or in registering for courses and assessing many career path options.

“Ascentra is excited to support the Trinity Health Foundation through this donation,” said Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “A robust healthcare system is important to the health of our community and helping this foundation proactively prepare for the future healthcare needs of our area aligns perfectly with the mission of Ascentra and the credit union philosophy of people helping people.”

The Trinity career navigator will guide individuals in the Quad Cities Pathways Pilot Program.  Their goal will be to link candidates to needed support and programs to help them through their educational journey in healthcare, hoping to eliminate many of the barriers to keep students from dropping out of the program and allow them to successfully complete all coursework to pass certification programs.

This $50,000 donation will be distributed to the Trinity Health Foundation over the next two years through $25,000 increments and will help support the cost of the career navigator in the Quad Cities.

About Ascentra:
Founded in 1950, Ascentra Credit Union is Iowa's premier credit union with more than $534 million in assets and nine branches serving the communities of Bettendorf, Clinton, Davenport, and Muscatine, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Learn more about Ascentra Credit Union at ascentra.org.  Follow Ascentra on Facebook (@ascentra), Instagram (@ascentracu), TikTok (@ascentra) and on the Ascentra Credit Union YouTube channel. 

About Trinity Health Foundation

Trinity Health Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, works side by side with UnityPoint Health – Trinity team members and community donors to secure charitable gifts and impact the lives of more than 100,000 patients each year. In 2023, Trinity Health Foundation funded over $1.1 million for patient assistance, community outreach, innovative initiatives, equipment & supplies, capital projects, and continuing education.