SBC Ameritech employees support USF nursing scholarship
SBC
Ameritech Illinois employees presented a check
for $29,500 to the University of St. Francis recently
to support the Jennifer K. Bily Memorial Scholarship
for nursing students.
The Jennifer K. Bily Memorial Scholarship was
established after the Plainfield woman’s
death in a 1995 automobile accident. She was a
nursing student and volunteer paramedic at the
time. Her parents Anthony Bily, an SBC Ameritech
Illinois area manager, and Kathy Bily established
the scholarship fund that makes an annual award
to a USF nursing student.
University
President Michael J. Vinciguerra accepted the
SBC Ameritech check from Anthony Bily, Jim Ryan,
area manager for Chicago Metro Construction, and
David Phelps, director of construction for Chicago
Metro. "SBC Amertech’s involvement and
commitment to the community is very evident by
this impressive gift. This gift is also certainly
evidence of the deep respect SBC Ameritech employees
feel for Tony Bily and the memory of his daughter,"
said Vinciguerra.
"We
at USF are very proud of what we do in the area
that Jennifer was a part of. The nursing program
is one of the gems at the university and in our
community. This gift will help make a difference
in the lives of nursing students and ultimately
to the quality of health care available in our
community," Vinciguerra added. "Out
of tragedy, often some very good things happen.
This is a clear case of one of them."
Jennifer
knew she wanted to be a nurse at the age of 7,
said her father. "She lived for medicine
and for helping other people. With this scholarship,
she lives on in the form of helping other students,"
Bily added.
The
funds were raised during a golf tournament organized
by SBC employees and retirees through the Pioneers
volunteer organization. More than 130 golfers
participated in the tournament that included sponsorship
and participation by SBC vendors, contractors
and suppliers.
Ameritech
SBC employees are committed to "giving back
to the community in which we work and live. That
it benefits one of our own makes this project
even more important to us," said Phelps.
"Tony Bily’s dedication to his job and
friends are evident in the support given to this
event. We had to turn people away from the golf
tournament. We hope this will be the first of
an annual event," he added.
Ryan
noted "great support from the company and
employees," saying "I am proud to be
part of the team that accomplished" this
effort.
The University of St. Francis serves more than 4,300 students nationwide, including 1,300 students at its Joliet campus. More than 60 areas of undergraduate study are offered, including nursing, the B.S.N. Fast Track degree completion program, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy and radiography along with master’s degree programs in nursing and physician assistant studies.