Why We Invested $5 Million in New Hampshire's Healthcare Future

When I was four years old, growing up in Keene, New Hampshire, I would ask my father to take us to church early so I could watch for nurses walking between the hospital and their dormitory next door. Something about those people in white uniforms captured my imagination and never let go. Even at that young age, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.

Life took me on a different path initially. I attended one semester of nursing school at Saint Anselm College before getting married and starting a family. Years later, with five children at home, I finally pursued my calling through a nursing program at Concord Hospital.

That experience taught me something important: Nursing isn't just a career; it's a calling that requires dedication, compassion, and excellent training. It's why my husband, Bob, and I donated $5 million to help train the future generation of nurses at the new Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Saint Anselm College.

Our connection to Saint Anselm runs deep. Our son Greg graduated from the college and loved it. Despite facing serious health problems throughout his life, he thrived there and expressed his intention to give back to the school when he got better. Tragically, Greg never got the chance. We honored his wishes by building the school for humanities in his name, and now we're continuing that legacy with this investment in nursing education.

Having worked in emergency rooms and volunteered at hospitals for decades, I've seen firsthand the difference that Saint Anselm nursing graduates make. They bring something special to patient care—a thoroughness and humanity that treats patients as whole people, not just medical conditions. Whether I've encountered them at Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, or even prestigious institutions like Mass General and Dana Farber, where Greg was being treated for cancer, Saint Anselm nurses stand out for their well-rounded approach to healthcare.

This distinction comes from Saint Anselm's unique four-year program that combines rigorous nursing education with a strong liberal arts foundation. While other programs focus solely on technical skills, Saint Anselm develops critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and effective communication skills. The result is nurses who are not only clinically competent but also equipped to lead and adapt as healthcare evolves.

The new 45,000-square-foot Grappone Hall represents a leap forward for nursing education in New Hampshire. The state-of-the-art simulation center will feature seven different learning environments—from labor and delivery to intensive care—using high-fidelity mannequins instead of asking students to practice on their friends, like I had to do during my training. Students will graduate with hands-on experience in realistic scenarios, better prepared for the real challenges they'll face in hospitals.

The timing couldn't be more critical. The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security estimates that there will be 906 annual openings for registered nurses and 1,169 annual openings for nursing assistants through 2026. This new nursing school will make a direct dent in the need facing New Hampshire and New England.

I encourage others to support nursing education however they can. Please consider volunteering at your local hospital, donating to a nursing scholarship, or simply thanking the healthcare workers who care for us.

We've been blessed with success in our business, and education and healthcare have always been our passion. Bob and I made this investment because we believe in doing the right thing for other people. Our investment isn't just in a building - it's in the future health and well-being of our state.

Beverly Grappone serves on the Board of Trustees at Saint Anselm College. She currently resides in Bedford and was previously a resident of Concord for 60 years.