ERIE, PA. (WENY) – The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has launched the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund Drive 2020.

The fundraiser is an effort to “strengthen the school's Student Scholarship Fund and assist next generation physicians, pharmacists and dentists in offsetting the financial burden of medical school”.

The drive is comprised of a series of “philanthropic efforts”, giving donors several ways to contribute to the Student Scholarship Fund, including:

  • Erie Gives: This annual, one-day effort by the Erie Community Foundation has raised more than $350,000 for the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund since 2013. By contributing through Erie Gives on Aug. 11, donors can double their impact as LECOM qualifies for a prorated match, thanks to the generosity of the local business community;
  • LECOM Finish Line for the Front Line Virtual 5K: Through the virtual format of this 5K, participants can complete the 3.1-mile race distance anywhere by a method of their choosing through July 31;
  • 16th Annual LECOM Health Golf Scholarship Classic: Hosted annually by Millcreek Community Hospital, this year’s golf scramble will be Sept. 3 at Lake Shore Country Club, Erie. Proceeds from sponsorships and team registrations go to the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund;
  • AmazonSmile: When a customer selects LECOM as the preferred charity at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible purchases to the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund.

This year's Student Scholarship Fund Drive replaces the college's two largest fundraisers, which were gala-style auctions held every fall in Erie and Bradenton, Florida; however, those events were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Erie event is now slated for November 13 2021 and the Bradenton event will be October 16, 2021.

“The onset of the Coronavirus earlier this year has underscored what we have known for a long time – there is a critical need for well-trained medical professionals capable and ready to deliver quality healthcare to patients and communities around the world,” said John M. Ferretti, D.O., LECOM president and CEO. “LECOM has played a key role in training next-generation physicians, pharmacists and dentists for nearly three decades, and the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund has helped many of those students become leaders in 21st century health care. The LECOM Student Scholarship Fund Drive 2020 will enable a new crop of aspiring medical professionals to receive a world-class education and the necessary training to emerge as the healthcare providers of tomorrow.”

LECOM has one of the lowest tuitions among private US medical colleges; however many students still graduate with debt often higher than $190,000. In order to help, the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund distributes more than $4 million to students across its four campuses, including one opening in Elmira. Since 1994, the school has awarded more than $37 million in scholarships, including $20 million over the last five years alone.