Published on March 24, 2025 by Megan Winkler  
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Founded in 1943 in honor of philanthropist and businesswoman Lettie Pate Whitehead, the foundation carrying her name continues her mission of supporting higher education. For more than 50 years, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has supported crucial scholarships at Samford University, many aimed at students pursuing nursing and other health care degrees. As one of the university’s longtime supporters, the foundation has awarded more than $8,000,000 in support of Samford scholarships.

 “The foundation has provided critical support to the university for more than 50 years, giving hundreds of students the opportunity to earn a degree,” said Bo Kerr, assistant vice president of university advancement.

 Joy Watson, a 2023 Samford’s Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing alumna, received a scholarship from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. Inspired by the foundation’s generosity, she now funds the Joy Watson Annual Scholarship Fund, an annual scholarship to support future nursing students at Samford.

 “Joy’s generosity is a testament to this scholarship program’s incredible impact on our students,” Kerr said. “It’s a full-circle moment to see an alumna, who once benefited from the foundation’s support, now giving back to future generations of nursing students.”

 The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation’s scholarship program continues to support students across the Southeast.

 “The generous support of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has proven essential in helping us provide need-based aid and resources to our students for many years,” said Lane M. Smith, Samford University assistant vice president for enrollment management and executive director of student financial services.

 Joy Watson’s story is a testament to the ripple effect of a giving heart and echoes the values instilled by the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. It shows how one act of generosity can spark a legacy of giving that endures for generations.

GIVE: Support Samford nursing scholarships

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.