Scarpa Pledges Two Nursing Scholarships Totaling $100,000

At the dedication of a plaque announcing two new nursing scholarships created by a $100,000 commitment from the John F. Scarpa Foundation are, from left: Inspira Health Chief Administrative Officer Lydia Stockman, Inspira Health President & COO Amy Mansue, philanthropist John Scarpa, retired Inspira Health Chief Administrative Officer Betty Sheridan, and nursing scholarship recipients Jennifer Martin-Pierce and Pricilla Jones. Martin-Pierce, an ER technician at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, was the first recipient of the Elizabeth A. Sheridan Nursing Education Scholarship. Pricilla Jones, BSN, RN-CMSRN, who works in the Cardiac Progressive Care Unit at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, is the first recipient of the John F. Scarpa Nursing Education Scholarship.

Two new annual scholarship funds for nursing students have been established by the John F. Scarpa Foundation. One will honor Elizabeth “Betty” Sheridan for her 24 years of leadership upon her retirement as chief administrative officer for Inspira Medical Centers Elmer and Vineland.

The other scholarship will honor Scarpa, whose generous support of Inspira Medical Center Vineland and the Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion date back to the opening of these community institutions.

“With these scholarship funds, we’re providing a hand up to aspiring nursing students,” said John F. Scarpa. “And at the same time, we hope to further elevate the practice of nursing at Inspira Health in the community where I grew up. By naming one of the scholarships after Betty Sheridan, we hope nursing students will be inspired by her compassion and commitment to clinical excellence for many years to come.”

Through the John F. Scarpa Nursing Education Scholarship Fund, the Scarpa Foundation will help nurses further their education and realize their dreams. This fund was established last year when Scarpa, a Vineland native, pledged to give $20,000 per year for five years, for a total of $100,000, to establish annual nursing education scholarships.

To honor the 55-year healthcare career of Betty Sheridan, who retired in February after dedicating the last 24 years to Inspira Health and the community it serves, Scarpa directed $5,000 from last year’s $20,000 donation installment to create the Elizabeth A. Sheridan Nursing Education Scholarship Fund. The Inspira Health Foundation has announced that it will bolster the Elizabeth A. Sheridan Nursing Education Scholarship Fund by contributing the proceeds of its 2023 Inspira Health Foundation Golf Tournament to the fund.

Scarpa and his wife, Jana, are dedicated philanthropists who support education, healthcare, and disadvantaged families through the John F. Scarpa Foundation. Mr. Scarpa is the key benefactor of the Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion and the John F. Scarpa Cancer Research Center at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center in Vineland, and the Edith Favretto Scarpa Academic Building at St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, among many other notable donations in the region.

Scarpa was an entrepreneur in both the cable television and cellular communication industries. He co-founded and served as president and COO of American Cellular Network Corporation, the first publicly traded cellular telephone company in the United States. Scarpa went on to co-found Unitel Wireless Communications Systems, where he helped build and manage cellular telephone systems throughout the United States. He was one of the original members of the national Cellular One Network.