For generations, St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls stood as a cornerstone of compassion and healing in our community. While the hospital's doors have closed, its spirit of care and service continues-living on in a new, meaningful way.

Thanks to the dedication and vision of the Partners of St. Joseph's Hospital, the Partners of St. Joseph's Hospital Scholarship Fund will carry that legacy forward. Now stewarded by the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, this endowed scholarship fund will continue to support local students pursuing careers in healthcare-ensuring that the mission of helping others' lives on, generation after generation.

The history of this fund is one built on quiet generosity and a deep commitment to the community. Established more than 20 years ago, the Partners endowment once provided between four and six scholarships each year to deserving students. What began as $500 scholarships eventually grew to $1,000 awards-small yet powerful gifts that helped launch meaningful careers in healthcare.

When the hospital closed, emotions ran high. For many, it wasn't just a place of healing-it was part of their lives, their stories. Yet even in this difficult transition, the community's commitment to its future remained strong. The endowment was entrusted to the Community Foundation, where it will continue to grow and make a difference-forever.

In a beautiful continuation of its purpose, the scholarship will now alternate each year between Chippewa Falls Senior High School and McDonell Central Catholic High School, offering financial support to students pursuing health-related fields. And just as importantly, it will continue to honor the values that the Partners of St. Joseph held dear.

"We didn't just want to give this scholarship to the top student," Jan Docksey, a long-time scholarship committee chair, shared. "We wanted to support those students who worked hard, who wanted to help themselves, but who might not have had all the advantages."

That philosophy remains at the heart of this fund. It's not just about rewarding academic success-it's about recognizing grit, perseverance, and a calling to serve others.

Through this fund, the care that once radiated through the halls of St. Joseph's Hospital will now ripple out through the hands of future nurses, dentists, therapists, and healthcare professionals. It's a legacy not of bricks and mortar, but of compassion, equity, and hope.

And thanks to the foresight of the Partners of St. Joseph's Hospital and the stewardship of the Community Foundation, that legacy will never fade.