Foundation_The Cares Campaign_Banner Image

The CaroMont Health Cares Campaign

A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity

What makes a community truly healthy? Not just hospitals and technology, but the people who show up every day to provide exceptional care. CaroMont Health is building the most advanced facilities in our history. Now we need to fill them with the best people. The Cares Campaign is a $15 million investment in exactly that — scholarships and training for students who will become the nurses, clinicians and caregivers of Greater Gaston's future. What we do today will shape healthcare in Gaston County for decades to come. We hope you'll be part of it.

The Challenge

A workforce crisis that can't wait

Healthcare systems across the country are facing an unprecedented workforce shortage, and Gaston County is not immune. As the region grows and demand for care accelerates, competition for qualified healthcare professionals is intensifying at a concerning pace.

A growing population

Rapid regional growth is driving increased demand for healthcare services at every level — and growing communities require more care.

A shrinking workforce

The pandemic deepened an already critical nursing shortage, and the effects continue to ripple through healthcare organizations nationwide.

A costly workaround

Filling vacant roles with temporary contract workers is expensive, disruptive and not a viable long-term strategy for community health.

Two smiling healthcare workers in scrubs during a training session.

The Solution

Building the workforce from within the community

The answer is not to recruit from elsewhere, it's to invest in the talented people who already call the Greater Gaston region home. The CaroMont Health Cares Campaign is a scholarship initiative that creates pathways for local students to train for healthcare careers and build them right here.

From innovative high school programs to graduate specialty credentials, the campaign builds a robust network of education and training, partnering with local academic institutions to ensure scholarships are accessible, practical and tied directly to careers at CaroMont Health.

"These projects are not about steel, concrete and bricks; they are about this community. We are building the future." — Chris Peek, President & CEO, CaroMont Health.

The Campaign

A $15 million investment in people

The CaroMont Health Cares Campaign is a scholarship initiative with a goal of $15 million, funding education and training for individuals across multiple healthcare career pathways. When fully funded, the initiative will support up to 130 scholarship recipients annually, with awards ranging from $500 to $12,000. Every recipient commits to a minimum of two years of employment at CaroMont Health upon graduation, building long-term workforce stability for Greater Gaston.

Campaign Goal

Projected Scholarship Recipients

in Annual Scholarships Awarded

Campaign Outcomes

It's all about the people — the right people

A fully funded Cares Campaign means Greater Gaston has the skilled healthcare workforce it needs, not borrowed from elsewhere, not temporary, but locally grown and here to stay.

More nurses, faster — filling critical gaps in our local healthcare workforce

RNs, LPNs and CNAs make up more than 30% of CaroMont Health's urgent workforce gap. The campaign puts scholarships directly in the hands of students ready to fill those roles, no relocation required, no temporary contracts.

Talent that stays — students who build careers and lives in the Greater Gaston region

Every scholarship recipient commits to a minimum of two years at CaroMont Health upon graduation. Employees who reach that milestone are far more likely to build lasting careers here, turning a scholarship into a long-term community asset.

A pipeline, not a patch — a long-term solution, not a temporary fix

From high school programs to graduate credentials, the campaign builds a self-renewing regional model, so Gaston County isn't competing for talent, it's creating it.

A stronger community — better care, closer to home, for every family

CaroMont Health is the region's largest private employer. A thriving health system draws businesses, supports families and anchors Gaston County's economic future, and the campaign invests in all aspects.

Nursing instructor guiding students during a hands-on clinical training class.

Your Involvement

How you can make a difference

Growing a skilled, local healthcare workforce takes more than clinical revenue — it takes community. The CaroMont Health Foundation offers multiple giving options to fit your needs:

Direct gifts and contributions
Gifts of stock or securities
Gifts of property or real estate
Estate and planned giving
Multi-year pledge arrangements

Together, we'll ensure a high-quality, local healthcare workforce for the Greater Gaston area, now and for generations to come.