Litchfield Park residents fund scholarships for Sun Health employees

Residents of Sun Health’s La Loma Village are funding scholarships for employees pursuing higher education and vocational training, contributing more than $100,000 to staff members since the program began in 2015.

The resident-sponsored initiative provides up to $4,000 per year to selected employees. Scholarships are awarded by a nine-member committee made up of La Loma Village residents and are available to workers who have been employed at least six months and average 20 hours per week.

Drew Stancill, a dining room lead at La Loma Village’s Health and Rehabilitation Center and a student at Estrella Mountain Community College, said the scholarship helped ease financial pressure after an enrollment issue added an extra class to his schedule.

“It’s exciting,” Stancill said. “It’s nice to know that (the residents) are willing to help college students going to school. It helps out a lot, to be honest.”

Stancill is expected to graduate this summer with an associate degree in business and hopes to pursue a career in project management. He said residents also provided mentorship during the application process.

“We’re proud to partner with Sun Health to support the success of the next generation,” said Dr. Rey Rivera, president of Estrella Mountain Community College and a member of the Sun Health Services Board of Directors. “Students like Drew are passionate about pursuing an education, and we want to help them achieve that goal. Expanding access to educational opportunities is always our priority.”

In 2025, residents sponsored 26 scholarships totaling more than $27,000. Frank Bianco, chairman of the La Loma Village Scholarship Committee, said about 80% of residents contribute to the fund annually.

“For anybody who cares about people, if they have an opportunity to help out, this is an easy and good way to help people to advance,” Bianco said.

Bianco said his experience as a former professor at St. Bonaventure University helped inspire his involvement in the program.

Other recent scholarship recipients include Alessandra Castillo, who is studying medical sonography at Estrella Mountain Community College; Bethany Lopez, an Arizona State University student studying electrical engineering; and Adrian Ramirez, an Arizona State University student studying construction management.

“Our employees are studying subjects like electrical engineering and medicine, and we believe our (scholarship recipients) will go on to contribute a good deal to their chosen fields,” Bianco said.

For more information visit the Sun Health Foundation scholarship page at sunhealthfoundation.org/scholarships/.