Jack Maerz and Mary Rago Future of Healthcare Scholarship Fund Grant

The Jack Maerz and Mary Rago Future of Healthcare Scholarship Fund, established by Rich Rago and Beth Maerz, supports Hartford students pursuing healthcare degrees amid a critical nursing shortage. This fund honors their families' legacies and strives to provide educational opportunities for all, regardless of financial background. With a focus on equity in education, the fund aims to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals. Annually, 1-2 scholarships are awarded to deserving candidates.

About the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Over the years, individuals and families have donated money to the Foundation, creating an endowment. From the endowment, the Foundation makes grants to a broad range of nonprofit organizations in the region.
There are more than 160 funds at the Foundation devoted specifically to scholarships.
About the Scholarship Program
Since 1945, The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $30 million to students attending colleges in Connecticut and across the country.
The Hartford Foundation Scholarship Program helps award hundreds of scholarships each year to local students seeking post-secondary higher education.
Jack Maerz and Mary Rago Future of Healthcare Scholarship Fund
The Future of Healthcare Scholarship was established by Rich Rago and Beth Maerz, a local couple who recognized the critical shortage of nursing staff and the need to strengthen the healthcare workforce. Concerned that a quality education in the U.S. is increasingly reserved for the wealthy, they created this fund with the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to pursue a college education. Dedicated to supporting students from Hartford, Connecticut who are pursuing degrees in healthcare, the scholarship also carries deep personal meaning. It is named in honor of Beth’s father, John F. Maerz Jr., a proud graduate of Bulkeley High School, and Rich’s mother, Mary Rago, who earned her Nursing Degree from St. Francis. Through this fund, Rich and Beth hope to honor their legacies while empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Eligibility

Selection CriteriaReside in Hartford.
Are entering or currently enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year college/university.
Plan on pursuing, or are pursuing, a degree in nursing. Additional medical degrees would be considered, such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and medical diagnostics.
Have financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) generated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Have demonstrated academic achievement by maintaining a 2.5 (B) or higher grade point average in high school/community college and show promise of continued academic achievement at the post-secondary level.
Priority is given to students who have completed a 2-year degree at a Connecticut community college and are planning to complete their 4-year degree at a Connecticut public college or university.