Ministering Circle
Please address your thank you letter as follows:
Dear Ministering Circle Members
Ministering Circle Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is for students in the Associates Degree Nursing, Cardiovascular Sonography, Medical Sonography, Radiography, Surgical Technology, Medical Assisting and Occupational Therapy programs with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. High performance, enthusiasm and commitment to medical field must be evident.
Ministering Circle Scholarship
Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and accepted into the CFCC Associate Degree Nursing program. A recommendation from nursing faculty is required. A written statement of goals from the student is also required.
Ministering Circle Sonography Endowed Scholarship/Isabel James Lehto Foundation
This scholarship is for students in the Sonography or Cardiovascular Sonography programs with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Recommendation from the faculty is required. High performance, enthusiasm, and commitment to sonography must be evident. Preference will be given to students who express intent to practice sonography in this community after graduation. Input from student in a written statement of goals.
Impact
The Ministering Circle is a group of 50 nondenominational women working to support area health care projects in the Wilmington, North Carolina community.
There are not many organizations that can look back on a record bordering 125 years of continuous service to the health and welfare of their community, but such is the history of The Ministering Circle. Through several generations, this non-denominational group of 50 women has worked untiringly to attain its goal of serving mankind.
From a modest beginning in 1888, it has gradually, year by year, increased its scope in service. Looking over the records, one is amazed at the ingenuity displayed by members in the variety of activities in which they engaged to raise funds for their benevolent work in the community.
In 1890, our first project was a Wrightsville Beach Cottage for the care of sick children. In 1900, we turned our attention to James Walker Memorial Hospital. We purchased a horse for its ambulance, provided furnishings and linens for rooms and purchased the city’s first x-ray machine.
Beginning in 1907, we funded the salary for a District Nurse, a role the County assumed in 1950. For over 50 years, we’ve provided prescription medicines to patients who couldn’t afford them, a service now managed by MedSource (an organization we helped establish in 1996). Since 1950, we’ve also funded home help where the need is temporarily urgent. Between 1967 and 2010 we began funding ten scholarships to UNCW and Cape Fear Community College. In 2006, we started funding one scholarship each in radiography and sonography. As of late The Ministering Circle continues to give funds to other important local causes and projects such as the Health Department, The Harrelson Center, Alzheimer’s NC, Bitty and Beau’s, St. Mary’s Dental Clinic and Childhood Development Center.
The Ministering Circle members raise funds to support these wonderful projects with our Annual Fall Food Sale/ Gourmet For A Cause where we sell wonderful baked goods, pickles, jams and frozen foods, have a raffle of wonderful, unique prizes and sell the The Ministering Circle cookbook “Favorite Recipes of the Lower Cape Fear”. Funds are also derived from gifts, legacies, and memorials to loved ones by members, relatives, and interested friends.
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