Cleveland Clinic Receives $13 Million Gift from The Howley Foundation to Expand the Howley ASPIRE Pathways Program

Cleveland Clinic received a gift of $13 million from The Howley Foundation to expand the Howley ASPIRE Pathways program through 2036.

The generous gift will allow 380 future students to pursue careers in respiratory therapy, surgical technology and sterile processing.

The Howley ASPIRE Pathways program is designed to remove barriers to in-demand career opportunities in healthcare. It focuses on equipping participating students with the essential skills and experiences necessary to support their transition through higher education and entry into the workforce.

“The Howley ASPIRE program helps pave the way for success, fostering a new generation of expertly trained healthcare professionals,” said Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief Caregiver Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “We are grateful for The Howley Foundation’s continued support which allows us to offer this program to more students in Northeast Ohio.”

Students enter the program as high school juniors and engage in an innovative curriculum that explores careers in respiratory therapy, surgical technology and sterile processing. In their senior year, students concentrate on their chosen field of interest and prepare for the next steps in the program.

After graduation, students have the opportunity to earn scholarships to attend Cuyahoga Community College for surgical technology or Kent State University for respiratory therapy, where they can complete a two-year degree. Alternatively, they can receive on-the-job training and certification in sterile processing directly from Cleveland Clinic.

Students who attend Cuyahoga Community College or Kent State University work as part-time/PRN caregivers at Cleveland Clinic during the summer after high school graduation and continue this role during their studies. Upon successful completion of the program, they have the opportunity to return as full-time caregivers at a Cleveland Clinic facility.

The Howley ASPIRE Pathways program, sponsored by The Howley Foundation in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, is part of the broader Howley ASPIRE Program. Launched in 2017 with the Howley ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program, the initiative aims to provide local high school and college students with an introduction to healthcare careers, address opportunity gaps and reduce health disparities in the community.

“We believe that the best way to create upward social and economic mobility for economically disadvantaged students is to provide high quality, career oriented, educational programs. The Howley Aspire Program is an outstanding opportunity for students to work alongside Cleveland Clinic caregivers to gain the necessary skills to set them on the path to a successful career. said Nick Howley, founder, chairman and trustee of The Howley Foundation. “We have seen how this invaluable experience can make a significant difference in a student's life.”

The gift will also create a collaboration with Saint Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland so that the Howley ASPIRE Pathways Program will be an option for its students as they seek healthcare career experiences as part of the school curriculum.