Lon and Audrey Kight, well-known on the Treasure Coast for their dedication to education, recently continued their legacy of philanthropy with a $1 million estate gift to Martin Memorial Health Systems.

Their generous gift will establish the Kight Nursing Education Fund, financing a variety of programs that will provide training for nurses or individuals interested in becoming nurses.

“Nurses are a very important part of the medical treatment of patients. With new medicines and new medical techniques, it’s important that they remain educated on it all,” Lon Kight said. “I’m a great believer in education. I see the advantage of education in helping nurses perform their duties. I hope this inspires others to make similar gifts and help them see the benefits it can bring.”

Audrey and Lon Kight

Providing education for nurses and healthcare providers remains vital to ensuring proficient patient care. Many providers across the country face shortages in healthcare workers. And as technology continues to rapidly develop, healthcare workers must remain vigilant in keeping up with medical advances.

“At Martin Memorial, we are proud of our compassionate and talented nurses,” said Karen Ripper, chief nursing officer and vice president/administrator of Martin Memorial Medical Center. “Because of the generosity shown by the Kights, we can continue to advance nursing practice at Martin Memorial. This will have a tremendous benefit for the communities we serve.”