Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards honorees daily in April and May. For additional McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards content, visit this page.
Sure, Jack Dwyer has financed more than $16 billion in deals for the senior living and care industry since starting Capital Funding Group in 1993 as a one-stop-shop financing solution. But how many other lenders also have stepped up to help with the severe staffing shortages affecting senior living communities?
In 2021, Dwyer and his wife, Nancy, started the nonprofit Dwyer Workforce Development to provide free certified nursing assistant training and help find jobs for those who want careers in healthcare but have lacked the resources to take the first crucial step.
The enrolled Dwyer Scholars complete training, participate in clinical rotations and take the board of nursing exam. DWD also goes a step further, eliminating any obstacle to learning by providing financial support for housing, childcare and transportation, among other challenges, for those who need it.
After reaching certain career goals, the scholars then are offered a full scholarship to earn their registered nurse license or to pursue other advanced training in healthcare.
For those and many other reasons, Dwyer was elected a “Business Partner” winner in the inaugural McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards program.
The DWD program hardly is the first time the certified public accountant, who graduated with a business degree from Widener University, has given back to the industry.
Amid the pandemic, Dwyer and his company offered payment deferments; lobbied for continued support from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and legislators on behalf of owners and operators; worked with HUD to create a new loan to offer relief; and also created the Meals for Healthcare Heroes Program.
Dwyer’s efforts often have had ripple effects. The meals program, as just one small example, led three Maryland restaurants to rehire employees who had been furloughed because of the pandemic.
The McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. Honorees were recognized March 7 at a gala banquet and awards ceremony in Chicago. The program’s Platinum sponsor was MatrixCare. Omnicare was a Silver sponsor, and additional sponsors included Pinnacle Quality Insight, HealthDirect and Sentrics.
