HCA Healthcare Foundation gives $25,000 to CareerSource High School career program

HCA Florida Healthcare announced today that the HCA Healthcare Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to support CareerSource Central Florida’s efforts to strengthen and expand the healthcare workforce. The funding is from the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund, an $80 million community impact fund that supports innovative initiatives focused on addressing high priority community needs and health equity. Wendy Brandon, CEO, UCF Lake Nona Hospital, a part of HCA Florida Healthcare, formally presented the check to Pam Nabors, President & CEO, CareerSource Florida, during the hospital’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting.  

CareerSource Central Florida’s High School Career Express program provides students in grades 11 and 12 with a valuable learning experience that bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world work environments. Participating youth learn about job and career opportunities in their local community. This program also focuses on enhancing students' skills, fostering personal and professional growth, and helping them make informed decisions about their future careers. 

“CareerSource Central Florida is honored to receive an HCA Healthcare Foundation grant to expose high school students to a variety of business sectors, including healthcare, information technology, the public sector and more, to broaden students’ career perspectives,” said Pam Nabors, President & CEO, CareerSource Central Florida. “The High School Career Express program provides students with interactive activities and hands-on experiences, which leads to practical skill development and helps them choose the career pathway that best suits their interests.” 

“The ability to provide care for our communities today and for the future fully depends on a robust healthcare workforce,” said Wendy Brandon, CEO, UCF Lake Nona Hospital, a part of HCA Florida Healthcare. “We are proud to partner with CareerSource Central Florida to ensure students get an introduction to healthcare, view the work environment and talk to a variety of professionals so they can learn about the various careers available in the healthcare industry.” 

Funding the Healthier Tomorrow Fund at the HCA Healthcare Foundation is one example of the many ways HCA Healthcare is making a positive impact in the communities it serves. 

“At HCA Healthcare, we believe partnerships are essential to advancing our mission to care for and improve human lives,” said Joanne Pulles, president of the HCA Healthcare Foundation. “Partnering with organizations like CareerSource Central Florida allows us to do more for our communities than we can do separately.” 

For more information on the HCA Healthcare Foundation, visit www.hcacaring.org.