July 25
An unprecedented $1.765 million gift to North Shore Community College will create The Bertolon Simulation Health Care Center of Excellence in the Health Professions building on the College's Danvers campus. The gift comes thanks to Beverly residents Henry and Donna Bertolon (NSCC Class of 1972) and their children.
The gift, the largest in the college’s history, will support the to-be-established Bertolon Center dedicated to the provision of enhanced state-of-the-art simulation labs and advanced technology for electronic medical records software training to enhance the curricula for the inter- and intra-professional health care, human services, and emergency response training programs at the College.
The donation will touch a myriad of college programs, including: Nurse Education, Practical Nursing; Emergency Response Technician; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology; Radiologic Technology; Medical Assistant; Substance Addiction; Criminal Justice; Occupational Therapy Assistant; Human Services; Physical Therapist Assistant; and Fire and Safety Protection.
“Henry and I believe in the community college system. I attended NSCC many years ago before going to Northeastern University. My experience at the College was extremely positive. I had great professors and learned numerous practical skills that gave me a definite advantage in securing employment,” said Donna Bertolon.
“Practical skills and graduating qualified job candidates are the reasons we decided to help North Shore Community College, with the goal of increasing student access to their already impressive Simulation Lab. The expanded Lab at the Bertolon Center will allow more students the opportunity to get the hands-on training that will allow them to better compete in the job marketplace. With our gift, we hope to encourage other individuals and organizations to come join us and help make a difference by supporting NSCC, which we all know is a very important resource for so many young people in our community,” she added.
“On behalf of the North Shore Community College Foundation, I would like to thank the Bertolon Family Foundation for their exemplary leadership and generosity in establishing the Bertolon Center of Excellence at North Shore Community College,” said NSCC President Dr. Patricia A. Gentile. “Thanks to your contribution, NSCC will transform the academic experience and career-training for NSCC students pursuing health care, human services and emergency response careers.”
The Bertolon Family will be honored at the NSCC Foundation’s 3rd annual Champions for North Shore Community College Recognition Breakfast on October 3.