Bette Burch, BSN '80, has been a compassionate nurse, dedicated clinical instructor, and philanthropist. Through her career, Burch has been committed to see students succeed in the profession she loves. Her latest gift—$100,000 to support Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall, George Mason University’s new home for the College of Health and Human Services—ensures future nurses will receive their education in a world-class research and instructional facility.
Her donation was the first major gift for Peterson Family Hall, which is expected to open in fall 2017. While the Commonwealth of Virginia has provided initial financial support for construction, the university raised $9 million to complete the project.
"We are elated to receive this generous gift for our new building from Bette Burch, an alumna and former faculty member," said Thomas Prohaska, dean of the College of Health and Human Services. "Bette’s leadership gift will leave a lasting legacy for so many future generations of students."
In addition to being a nursing alumna, Burch served as an adjunct faculty member for the School of Nursing in the 1990s. While teaching, Burch was troubled by the financial struggles of some of her students who had difficulty with paying tuition or purchasing books and supplies. Her compassion for her students compelled her to create the Bette Burch Nursing Endowed Scholarship. Over the ensuing decades, this scholarship has assisted many students in completing their Mason nursing degrees.
She sees her most recent gift to support the college’s facilities as a continuation of the effort to ensure a pipeline of nurse professionals. It’s also a call to her fellow alumni and faculty members to join her support the college. "[A gift] doesn't have to be large," she said. "Even if everybody gave $100, with the number of people who have graduated from the college, it has the potential to help the college reach its goal. I don’t think that people realize that even a small donation can have a large impact since it is part of something larger."
To honor Burch’s gift, a nursing conference room in Academic VII will be named in her honor.
To learn more about supporting the College of Health and Human Services, contact Laura Walsh at lwalsh9@gmu.edu or 703-993-8640.