Michael and Doris Anthony's Legacy

A Legacy of Compassion: Michael Anthony’s Commitment to Nursing Students

For Michael Anthony ’86, education was not just a stepping stone—it was a life-changing experience. After working for a year to save for college, he enrolled at Bloomsburg University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration. His time at Bloomsburg provided not only a strong academic foundation but also friendships that have lasted more than three decades. As a member of the fraternity system, Michael formed bonds that remain an important part of his life, with annual gatherings to reconnect and reminisce.

Today, Michael is a dedicated financial advisor with Prudential, where he has worked for 37 years. His professional success has enabled him to give back in meaningful ways, and in 2018, his philanthropy took on a deeply personal mission: honoring the legacy of his mother, Doris Anthony.

Honoring a Mother’s Legacy: The Doris Anthony Compassionate Care Scholarship

Doris Anthony dedicated nearly 30 years to nursing, spending much of her career on an oncological nursing floor. She was more than a caregiver—she was a source of comfort and compassion for her patients, keeping an “obituary basket” filled with newspaper clippings and funeral prayer cards to honor those she had cared for.

After suffering a stroke, Doris expressed a poignant wish: “I want to come back a lot smarter than I am right now, and I’m going to find a way to bring compassion back into nursing.” At her funeral, Michael and his family made a promise to carry out her mission.

Later that year, Michael worked with The Bloomsburg University Foundation to establish the Doris Anthony Compassionate Care Scholarship , designed to support nursing students from Pennsylvania who demonstrate a commitment to compassionate care. Unlike many scholarships that focus primarily on academic achievement, this scholarship places greater emphasis on an essay component, allowing students to share their passion for nursing and their vision for bringing empathy and kindness into the field.

“The scholarship isn’t just about rewarding good grades,” Michael explains. “It’s about finding students who truly embody the spirit of compassionate care—those who will carry forward the values my mother believed in so deeply.”

Investing in the Future: Will Provisions and Growing the Impact

Michael’s commitment to supporting future nurses extends beyond his annual contributions. By incorporating the scholarship as a beneficiary on various investment contracts, he has ensured that his giving will continue for generations. This strategic approach minimizes tax liability while maximizing the impact of his donations, ensuring that more funds reach students rather than being lost to administrative costs.

Currently, the scholarship is supported through a combination of planned giving, yearly fundraising efforts, and corporate sponsorships. Michael hopes to expand awareness of employer matching programs, which allow donors to amplify their contributions through workplace giving initiatives.

Looking ahead, Michael envisions growing the scholarship’s reach—awarding multiple recipients each year and increasing the financial support offered. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help students on their journey,” he says. “If we can ease their financial burden and encourage compassionate care in nursing, we’re making a real difference.”

Through his generosity and foresight, Michael Anthony is not only honoring his mother’s legacy but also shaping the future of healthcare—one compassionate nurse at a time.