Retired clinical operations director and chief nursing officer for Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Linda Coale, RN, is intimately familiar with the rewards and challenges of nursing. As the hospital’s top nursing executive, Linda joined the Holy Cross Foundation Board, where she became aware of the crucial role of philanthropy in supporting Providence Holy Cross.

Linda knew she would find a way to give back. “I’d spent my entire professional career with the Providence health system, and I wanted to leave a legacy,” she shares.

During her tenure, Providence Holy Cross started the journey to achieving the Magnet designation, which it’s maintained since 2007. To nurses, Magnet recognition means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. Linda’s firm belief in education and her awareness of the Magnet education requirement fueled her philanthropic passion.

Opening the door to education

Upon her retirement in 2006, Linda created the Linda Coale Nursing Excellence Endowment. Funds from the endowment help nurses pay for continuing education, including advanced degrees and specialty certification programs.

“I was aware of the crunch in the education budget that all departments were vying for, not just nursing,” she remembers. “As I approached retirement, I wanted to provide resources to open doors for nurses to further their development.”

In April of this year, Linda was an honored guest at the Providence Holy Cross Nursing Scholarship Awardee Lunch, where awardees were presented with their nursing scholarships. Many scholarship recipients expressed their gratitude to Linda for her generosity.

“This is very fulfilling to me,” she says. “Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is ranked among the top in nursing. When you come to the hospital, it’s the nurses who are there for you. They are the heroes of today, and I’m proud to support them.”