Portsmouth, N.H. (October 15, 2025) – The Foundation for Seacoast Health has partnered with Great Bay Community College (GBCC) to help remove barriers, such as transportation or licensing costs, that can prevent students in healthcare from earning a degree or certificate. Through the Healthcare Pathways Pilot Initiative, the two organizations joined together to provide $20,000 to support qualifying students during the 2025-2026 academic year.
“At the Foundation for Seacoast Health, we are dedicated to investing in the people who will care for our community in the years to come,” said Blair Demers, CEO. “This Healthcare Pathways Initiative goes beyond just tuition to cover the real-world costs that often prevent students from completing their degrees. By removing these barriers, we are helping more future nurses and surgical technologists graduate, join the workforce, and care for our community.”
To date, GBCC has awarded over $6,000 from the grant, through The Foundation for NH Community Colleges, to assist 22 students with transportation costs to and from their clinicals. Eighteen students are enrolled in the nursing program, and four are training to become surgical technologists. In the spring, students will receive additional support for transportation and licensure exam fees.
“Sometimes meeting basic needs like paying for gas to get to campus or paying for a required exam is out of reach for our students. We are grateful to the Foundation for Seacoast Health for funding to help our students pursue their career goals and meet the needs of our healthcare employers and the communities they serve,” said Dr. Dulcinea Kaufman, Chair of the GBCC Nursing Department.
“Providing access to a community college education by reducing these obstacles is one of the core values of The Foundation for NH Community Colleges. This innovative partnership is helping GBCC students on their educational journey toward serving in vital healthcare jobs locally,” said Executive Director Tim Allison
Students who have received assistance have been deeply appreciative for the extra support. “Thank you for helping me to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse,” wrote one student.
Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College is a comprehensive postsecondary institution offering quality academic, professional, and technical education in support of workforce development and lifelong learning. Great Bay Community College is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire, a public system of higher education consisting of seven colleges in Berlin, Claremont, Laconia, Concord, Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth.
About The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges
The Foundation is a charitable organization established to provide greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for student scholarships, program development and enhancements to facilities across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges. The Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand, skilled jobs to meet the needs of the workforce. To learn more about supporting community college students, visit GiveNHCC.org.
Foundation for Seacoast Health
The Foundation for Seacoast Health was established in 1984 in Portsmouth, NH to improve the health and well-being of residents in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Maine through grantmaking to nonprofits, awarding scholarships for health-related studies, and convening community partnerships.
Photo caption: Through the Healthcare Pathways Pilot Initiative, nursing students at GBCC are receiving support to help remove financial barriers. Pictured left to right: Dr. Dulcinea Kaufman, Chair of the Department of Nursing at GBCC, nursing students Doug Young, Brenna Bober, Molly Amundsen, Dr. Cheryl Lesser, GBCC President, nursing students Devon Doran, Kaeli Rumore and Blair Demers, CEO of the Foundation for Seacoast Health. (Photo courtesy of GBCC)
