Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Main Line Health is providing student debt relief to 173 nurses through a donor-funded effort that has brought in $4.26 million across four of its hospitals since early 2025, according to the health system.
The effort began with a $1 million donation at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pa., in early 2025 and expanded through additional $1 million gifts — one from a separate donor family at each hospital — at Paoli (Pa.) Hospital in summer 2025, Lankenau later that year, Riddle (Pa.) Hospital in early 2026 and most recently at Bryn Mawr Hospital. The initial anonymous gift was tied to a patient and their family at Lankenau.
On March 17, Main Line Health announced that 173 eligible Bryn Mawr Hospital nurses who applied for the $3,600 grants were approved. System spokesperson Larry Hanover told Becker’s the nurses will begin receiving monthly installments shortly. In total, 706 nurses across Main Line Health are receiving grants.
“We were thrilled to come together and celebrate the impact of an anonymous gift that reflects the very best of who we are at Main Line Health,” President and CEO Ed Jimenez said in a statement to Becker’s. “At its heart, this story began at Lankenau Medical Center, where a patient and their family formed a meaningful connection with members of the care team. Through those interactions, they came to better understand the financial challenges many nurses face as they pursue their calling. Moved to act, they made an anonymous gift to help ease student debt for nurses.”
Mr. Jimenez said the additional donations “speak to the power of philanthropy, generosity and shared purpose across our system. That initial gift inspired others. Supporters at Paoli, Riddle and Bryn Mawr hospitals each stepped forward with gifts of their own, creating a ripple effect that quickly grew into something much larger.”
The effort at Main Line Health comes as nurses face financial strain from student debt. A February 2026 study published in Health Affairs Scholar found that 2,086 registered nurses and 692 advanced practice nurses in a Michigan-based survey reported carrying active student loans, with median balances of $33,210 for RNs and $66,420 for APNs in 2025 dollars. The study also found that among nurses who had recently changed positions or planned to do so within one year, 51% of those with student debt cited pay and benefits as a key factor, compared with 10.1% of those without debt.
“In total, four donor families contributed more than $4 million to support nursing debt relief across Main Line Health,” Mr. Jimenez said. “This is more than a story about philanthropy. It is a reflection of the connections our teams build with patients and families every day and the lasting impact of the care they provide.”
Main Line Health is a five-hospital system with more than 14,000 employees. The system also includes seven health centers and more than 150 medical practice locations.
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