Gulf Coast Village presents 13th annual Scholarship Awards Program: Scholarships will be given to 11 employees for education

The Gulf Coast Village Foundation will present 11 employees with $1,000-$2,000 scholarships at the 13th annual Scholarship Awards Program, taking place at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral. The scholarship program, which has awarded 57 scholarships since 2003, is designed to assist employees of any age in continuing their education. The program is supported through donations from Gulf Coast Village residents and staff.

“We’re proud to be able to support our employees as they continue their education,” said Gulf Coast Village Fund Development Director Cheryl Leftwich. “So many of our employees continue to pursue educational goals, and the scholarships give our residents and staff the opportunity to help them achieve those goals.”

Lisa Persaud, who has worked at Gulf Coast Village for three years, is one of the 11 employees who will receive a scholarship. She also received a scholarship from the foundation in 2014. Persaud graduated from Island Coast High School last year second in her class and with an associate’s degree she received as a dual-enrollment student. She is currently studying at the Cape Coral Institute of Technology to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Persaud, who emigrated with her family from Guyana in South America at the age of 4, plans to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

In her essay for this year’s scholarship, Persaud wrote about the lessons she’s learned from working at Gulf Coast Village and spending time with residents. “Working here has taught me tolerance, patience and appreciation,” Persaud wrote. “Each person has their own story, and it never ceases to amaze me how much can be accomplished in one lifetime. It is one thing to hear about their experiences and memories, but to be a part of their lives now, it is truly a blessing.”

Founded more than 25 years ago, Gulf Coast Village is the premier Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Cape Coral, Florida. Residents enjoy active independent living in an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience with a rich array of services and amenities that are focused on living well. The community also offers the security of knowing there is the full continuum of care when needed, including: assisted living, skilled nursing, specialized memory support, home health and outpatient services. Gulf Coast Village is located at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991. For more information call 239-772-1333 or visit www.GulfCoastVillage.com.

Gulf Coast Village is sponsored by Volunteers of America, a national non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 and is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of quality, affordable housing for seniors and a provider of professional long-term care including assisted living, home health care and nursing home care.