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5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS, 66207
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Shawnee Mission LaSertoma, an organization focused on the support of worthy causes “in service to mankind,” announced a new philanthropic effort to fund its ongoing quest to provide scholarships for nursing students at Johnson County Community College.
Pickleball Palooza for Charity will take place Sunday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m.-noon, at Chicken N Pickle, 5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS, 66223.
This inaugural event will include:
Together, sponsorship fees, registration fees, and silent auction payments are expected to raise about $10,000 to help more nursing students graduate and join the professional nursing workforce.
Getting more students through nursing school is crucial for Kansas City and the nation as a whole. People’s health and welfare is at risk due to an overwhelming nursing shortage. This crisis is driven by several significant issues, including: inadequate staffing ratios, unequal pay for equal experience, lack of hazard pay during a pandemic, inadequate backup, and an inability to take breaks or sick days. Toxic workplace culture and a disconnect between leadership and frontline nurses are also contributing factors.
Shawnee Mission LaSertoma’s primary philanthropy is to raise funds for nursing scholarships at JCCC. (The organization also supports critical charities such as Bethel Neighborhood Center, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, and Growing Futures Early Education Center.)
Incoming board president Brenda Schaefer said, “We have several members who worked as nurses and recognize how much the profession has changed over the years. They have helped us understand that the nursing crisis is being overlooked by many people and have urged us to do what we can to help solve it.
“We may be a small, local organization, but the nursing scholarships we provide will educate future nurses who will care for thousands of people throughout their careers. That gives our efforts significant impact on a wide scale.”
An article in the Journal of Advanced Practice Nursing explains the nursing crisis. It said, “In 2021, the total number of registered nurses working in the U.S. dropped by the largest amount in 40 years, with younger nurses leading the exodus. By 2025, the U.S. healthcare system could suffer a shortfall of up to 450,000 nurses, or 20% fewer than the nursing workforce required for patient care.”
Key facts about the U.S. nursing shortage
Source: Why Is There A Nursing Shortage? | NurseJournal.org
About Shawnee Mission LaSertoma
Shawnee Mission LaSertoma was chartered in October 1935 by a group of 15 local women. It is a member of LaSertoma International. Its objective is to promote friendship and support worthy causes in the “Service to Mankind.” (The name LaSertoma is devised from that slogan.)
