Margaret Ann Bollmeier and Harry Thalhimer with a student and her donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Students pose with donors.
Margaret Ann Bollmeier
Brooke Brown
Steven P. Heckel

2018 Endowed Scholarship Brunch: Connecting Scholarship Donors and Their Recipients

As third-year Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy student Brooke Brown spoke at February’s MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch, she was already looking many years into the future.

“On behalf of my peers, we are excited to have the opportunity to one day sit with you all to give back to the MCV Campus and to continue the legacy you all have created,” she said.

The annual scholarship brunch provides an opportunity for donors to the five health sciences schools on the MCV Campus at VCU Health to meet the students who are benefiting from their gifts and investments. More than 330 of the donors, students and MCV Campus leaders attended this year’s brunch, saying thank you, providing encouragement and discussing plans for futures that will impact lives across the world.

Scholarship recipients from the MCV Campus visit with the donors and families who made their awards possible at the 2018 Endowed Scholarship Brunch.
Scholarship recipients from the MCV Campus  visit with the donors and families who made their awards possible at the 2018 Endowed Scholarship Brunch.

“We want our students to be able to focus on what’s important, and we want them to choose a field because they love it and because they are committed to excellence — not because of the debt they carry,” said Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU and VCU Health System when he addressed the audience. “Donors help mitigate that and I can’t thank you enough.”   

Brooke Brown, who spoke at the Endowed Scholarship Brunch, and her mother Michelle visit with MCV Foundation president Margaret Ann Bollmeier.
Brooke Brown, who spoke at the Endowed Scholarship Brunch, and her mother Michelle visit with MCV Foundation president Margaret Ann Bollmeier.

Brooke, who is a two-time scholarship recipient, said she and her classmates benefit from scholarships in a range of ways, including by gaining better financial stability; having day-to-day resources available for books, laptops and even food; and receiving funds that support learning and service around the world.

“There is something very special and unique about having the opportunity to shake hands or hug the person who literally just lifted a weight off of your shoulders,” Brooke told us after the brunch.

The weight has been lifted for more students this year than ever before as the number of endowed scholarships at the MCV Foundation grew to 391 and paid out $2.8 million.  For the peace of mind that these scholarships bring so many students who are planning to do incredible, life-saving work in allied health professions, dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy, Brooke thanked the donors “for leaving your legacy within the various schools on the MCV Campus.”

Steven P. Heckel, speaks at the Endowed Scholarship Brunch next to a photo of his sister Dr. Janice Heckel, a 1980 alumna of the School of Medicine.
Steven P. Heckel, speaks at the Endowed Scholarship Brunch next to a photo of his sister Dr. Janice Heckel, a 1980 alumna of the School of Medicine.

One of those legacies is the Janice L. Heckel Scholarship at the VCU School of Medicine, which was established with a bequest from Dr. Janice Heckel, a 1980 School of Medicine graduate who passed away in 2014.

Dr. Heckel’s brother Steven spoke at the brunch, saying his sister wanted to defray the educational expenses of medical students so they could feel free and empowered to become the types of doctors that they truly want to be.

In becoming the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, therapists and dentists they want to be, Steven said his sister would have wanted the students in the room to keep a sense of humor and perpetuate the kindness from which they’ve all benefited.

To be part of that kindness is the honor of a lifetime, said Harry Thalhimer, MCV Foundation board chair. “It is exceptionally special to stand with students who are benefiting from your generosity and those of you who are providing the support around these students,” he told the crowd. “To get through school and medical training is expensive and difficult to manage, so thank you.”

Legacies for students, faculty, programs and research on the MCV Campus can be established in a number of ways, including through named endowed funds, planned giving, tributes and memorials, and major gifts. The variety of tools available for giving enables anyone who is interested in giving to contribute in a way that best fits his or her needs. To learn more, visit our giving page.

Students and donors at the scholarship brunch.