Cinda and George Hurt's most recent gift will support nursing education and development through Centra’s Virginia Henderson Institute of Clinical Excellence.
Cinda and George Hurt, MD, are passionate about healthcare, education and their community.
A generous $500,000 gift from the couple touches on all three areas of interest through support for local nurses. The gift will support nursing education and development through Centra’s Virginia Henderson Institute of Clinical Excellence. It honors Cinda’s aunt, Virginia Avenel Henderson, a renowned nurse educator from Bedford County who is considered the foremost nurse of the 20th Century by the American Nurses Association.
“I am a firm believer that if you love our community and have the capability, you ought to give back to it in any way you can,” Dr. Hurt said. “We are honored to invest in nurses and to carry on the legacy of Virginia Henderson.”
In addition to the family’s connection to Henderson, Dr. Hurt never hesitates to tell people how important nurses are for both patients and physicians. “They have helped me out in my career more times than I can count” and are “the backbone” of healthcare, he said.
“We are truly grateful for their generosity,” said Centra Vice President of Clinical Excellence Dena Todd, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, NE-BC. “Their gift will help us continue to invest in our nurses and develop educational programs which support evidence-based care for patients and families.”
The gift builds on the couple’s legacy of support for nurses, patients in need and our not-for-profit community healthcare organization.
In addition to annual gifts, the Hurts have made several large gifts over the years to support nursing and uninsured, low-income residents in our community in need of healthcare. They also give generously of their time. Dr. Hurt, who calls Cinda “the soul of my support,” has served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for the entirety of its 30-year history. Prior to that, he served on the boards of Virginia Baptist Hospital and Centra for a combined total of 15 years. A respected neurosurgeon, he has served the community for over 50 years.
The Centra Board of Directors recently presented Dr. Hurt with a proclamation recognizing the couple’s outstanding generosity over several decades.
“The Hurts are guided by a profound understanding of the power of giving,” said Beth Doyle executive vice president of the Centra Foundation. “Throughout our history Cinda and George have expressed their values by the impact they have made.”
