The Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family Fund Healthcare Scholarships

The Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family Fund is a student scholarship program administered by MidMichigan Medical Center—Midland, funded through a gift from the Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family. Scholarships are given to students in health care fields on the basis of merit and established criteria as determined by an overseer committee.

Who should Apply?

Eligible applicants must be:

• Mid-Michigan area residents
• Accepted into an accredited health care career studies program
• Pursuing undergraduate, graduate or professional schooling

Application Process

The application deadline for the 2010-2011 school year has passed. Applications for the 2011-2012 school year will be accepted beginning in the fall of 2010.  Please contact Mark Kozak at mark.kozak@midmichigan.org or (989) 839-3126 for more information.

What is the Bailey Fund?

The Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family Fund is an endowment created for the purpose of funding student health-care scholarships. The fund was created through a $3.3 million dollar  bequest from Bernard F. Bailey to MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland. The income earned from the fund will be used to help mid-Michigan area individuals who are accepted into accredited health career programs and are interested in pursuing undergraduate, graduate or professional schooling. This donation represents the largest single individual gift given to the Medical Center in its more than 60-year history. 

About the Bailey Family

Melissa Anne and Bernard F.  Bailey

Bernard Bailey was a fifth-generation native of Midland. He died at his home in the fall of 2004 on land his family had owned beginning in the 1850s.  His wife, Melissa Anne, predeceased him in 2003.  Bailey began working in the insurance business with his father, Floyd Bailey, in 1939.  He and his father ran the company until 1942, when Bailey went into the service.  He returned in 1946 and, with his wife, Melissa Anne, bought the Bailey Insurance Agency in 1950.  He served as Midland’s postmaster from 1950 until 1956, when he returned to the insurance company.  He retired in 1985, selling the business to his nephew, William Bailey.

"Their appreciation for those in the medical profession became the focal point of their legacy of giving,” said William Bailey, as their long and productive lives became more difficult in later years. “They spent so much time at the Medical Center and were grateful for the care that they received and for the individuals with whom they came in contact,” he added. “They were always looking for ways to assist people especially those who wanted to better themselves in order to help others. This gift will certainly do that.”

Committee Members

Members of the committee that administers the Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family Fund and reviews all applications are:

• Lynn Bruchhof, chair
• William Bailey
• Dr. Dennis Johnson
• Ellamary Kane
• Mark Kozak
• Francine Padgett 
• Donna Rapp
• Greg Rogers
• Carlene Skorczewski