KeyBank gives $1M to Albany Med to help recruit, retain staff

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The KeyBank Foundation presented a $1 million check to Albany Medical Center on Tuesday to help support the hospital's recruitment, retention, and workforce development initiatives.

The investment will help support the hospital's Leading Employees to Advancement and em(P)owerment (LEAP) Program, which provides career coaching, financial support for nurses, and provides assistance to entry-level staff who experience financial or language barriers.

“KeyBank is celebrating our bicentennial, and our relationship with Albany Medical Center dates back nearly as far,” said Fran O’Rourke, Capital Region President, KeyBank. “To support this program, which builds workforce by creating opportunities for employees to have access to the resources needed to advance their careers, is a great way to honor our heritage, impact lives, and continue to make a difference in the community where we were founded.”

Dr. Dennis McKenna, president and CEO of Albany Med, said the donation and continued partnership between KeyBank and the hospital shows their commitment to keeping the region healthy.

"We're so grateful for KeyBank, and we certainly assured them we'll be good stewards of that," he said. "And this is a partnership that didn't start today. This is a partnership that goes back over 100 years. Our goal is to deliver on this mission in this region."

Since 1981, KeyBank has donated more than $3.5 million to support Albany Med.