Scholarships & Awards History
Fifty Years of Dedicated Service
Founded in Melbourne, Florida in 1957 to provide a loan fund for patients needing cardiac care. The original funs were provided by the William H. Hodgman estate.
Chartered in 1958 as the Brevard Heart Association, Inc. And re-named the Brevard Heart Loan Fund in April 1965.
On April 28, 1965, the name was changed to the Brevard Heart Foundation, Inc. Most of the services then were in support of the county health department.
In 1967, Dr. Ralph E. Balch, M.D., a Director of the Foundation passed away. He left a sizeable bequest in his will to the Brevard Heart Foundation.
On October 26, 1968 The Brevard Heart Foundation, Inc., sponsored the first pacemaker implant at Brevard Hospital. This included the training of the doctors and nurses. This led to many lifesaving implants.
Education Seminars and Clinics were started in 1965 so nursing students could get the training they needed.
On February 12, 1969 Dr. Eugene Tubbs, M.D. suggested that we give grants to medical students that were having a difficult time financially staying in medical school. This was done. Some scholarships were given for $2000 in 1970.
Nursing Scholarships were started in 1989 working with the Brevard Community College of Nursing. Every year since that time we have continued this practice and have expanded this to other schools.
In 1999, the Brevard Heart Foundation received a large grant of $180,000 from the Katherine H. Uhler, estate. This has helped to expand our scholarships.
In 2001, The Brevard Heart Foundation gave $22,000 in scholarship grants. Two scholarships of $5000 each were given in the name of Dr. Jack T. Bechtel, M.D.
In 2007, the total given in scholarships was $26,000.
Founded in Melbourne, Florida in 1957 to provide a loan fund for patients needing cardiac care. The original funs were provided by the William H. Hodgman estate.
Chartered in 1958 as the Brevard Heart Association, Inc. And re-named the Brevard Heart Loan Fund in April 1965.
On April 28, 1965, the name was changed to the Brevard Heart Foundation, Inc. Most of the services then were in support of the county health department.
In 1967, Dr. Ralph E. Balch, M.D., a Director of the Foundation passed away. He left a sizeable bequest in his will to the Brevard Heart Foundation.
On October 26, 1968 The Brevard Heart Foundation, Inc., sponsored the first pacemaker implant at Brevard Hospital. This included the training of the doctors and nurses. This led to many lifesaving implants.
Education Seminars and Clinics were started in 1965 so nursing students could get the training they needed.
On February 12, 1969 Dr. Eugene Tubbs, M.D. suggested that we give grants to medical students that were having a difficult time financially staying in medical school. This was done. Some scholarships were given for $2000 in 1970.
Nursing Scholarships were started in 1989 working with the Brevard Community College of Nursing. Every year since that time we have continued this practice and have expanded this to other schools.
In 1999, the Brevard Heart Foundation received a large grant of $180,000 from the Katherine H. Uhler, estate. This has helped to expand our scholarships.
In 2001, The Brevard Heart Foundation gave $22,000 in scholarship grants. Two scholarships of $5000 each were given in the name of Dr. Jack T. Bechtel, M.D.
In 2007, the total given in scholarships was $26,000.
Beginning with seven $500 scholarships, this program has continued annually and today the awards range from $500 to over $3000 per student per year, with the number of scholarships awarded dependent on the number of qualified applications received by the Foundation. Total awards have been in excess of $445,450 through 2008.
Nursing Scholarships Added
In 1989 the Foundation elected to expand its scholarship program by adding nursing scholarships. The “Nancy Meisenheimer Nursing Scholarships,” named after a dedicated nurse who served in Brevard County, were started. These are awarded annually by Brevard Community College. The funding is provided by the Brevard Heart Foundation.This program has continued to expand. In 2007, the Brevard Heart Foundation funded five BCC nursing awards and twenty-eight more nursing scholarships to BCC and other nursing school students.
Physician Assistant Scholarships Added
In 2004 the Foundation board elected to expand its scholarship program to include Physician Assistant Scholarships in recognition of the need for additional Physician Assistants in Brevard CountyMedical Scholarships Continued in 2009
Brevard Heart Foundation, Inc. continues to annually award scholarships to Brevard residents who are studying to become physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and surgical technologists.
