Project SEARCH gets financial support via Gundersen Medical Foundation

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Project SEARCH gets financial support via Gundersen Medical Foundation

For the third year in a row, Gundersen Medical Foundation will present a check for $20,000 to the Project SEARCH program at Gundersen Region Emplify Health. Project SEARCH is a year-long employment prep program for young people with disabilities that takes place entirely at the workplace. In this case, for these six interns, that workplace is on the Gundersen campus of Emplify Health.

"Supporting the education of our youth is a priority," said Heather Schimmers, president Gundersen Region of Emplify Health who spoke at the check presentation. "We often believe our interns are doing all the learning during their time here, but just as often WE are learning from THEM. WE are shaped as mentors. We grow right alongside them."

About Project SEARCH

The interns are among the around 4,000 Project SEARCH students internationally and approximately 213 in Wisconsin. In fact, both the Gundersen region and the Bellin Health region of Emplify Health are among the 29 businesses and organizations across the state engaged with the program. Meanwhile, the School District of Holmen holds the license for this chapter of Project SEARCH, which is open to young adults ages 18 to 21 from any school district. Interns have come from as far as Prairie du Chien and Independence.

According to Project SEARCH and Holmen School District instructor, Laura Anderson the recent funds from the Gundersen Medical Foundation are now approaching $50,000. "The experience our internes receive from mentors alone at Gundersen is remarkable and life changing - just ask the parents. Project SEARCH would not exist without them here and the additional dollars have allowed us to thank the mentors for their commitment. Even more, these dollars have given us the opportunity to provide life enrichment and experiences that reach far beyond the classroom and workplace to the "whole person," ultimately changing the interns lives in ways not otherwise possible."

Anderson says the interns work in a variety of departments at Gundersen, including Food Service, Laundry, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Central Service, Outpatient Pediatric Therapy, the Child Care Center, Environmental Services, Facility Operations and several others. Throughout the year, interns complete three 11-week rotations in three different departments. They learn hands-on skills while working in their departments and soft skills during an hour and half of daily classroom time.

Training the next generation

"We are a teaching hospital," adds Stephen Shapiro, MD, Gundersen Medical Foundation. "We believe the interns from Project SEARCH are an integral part of education. We can argue who is learning more, the interns or our staff members from their presence in department after department. This is the type of program our community is proud to support because it matches our mission vision and values."

Funds for Project SEARCH from the Gundersen Medical Foundation are used in a variety of ways including supplying the school store so the interns can earn and learn. A socialization trip with other interns from around the state and mentorship appreciation event to help the interns reward their mentors for their commitment to education.

Help support Project SEARCH

You can help support Project SEARCH interns locally by donating to Gundersen Medical Foundation.

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