A Humble Start, a Lasting Legacy
How do you explain the drive and dedication of Millie Hom?
Perhaps it started with the act of kindness shown to her in the 1930s, when nuns at Sacred Heart Convent in Miles City, Montana, awarded the impoverished teenager tuition, room and board.
And maybe it grew stronger as Millie became a candy striper, earned her two-year degree, then a Bachelor of Nursing, and finally, in 1968, her Master of Nursing Administration.
That's what Kevin Hom thinks. He watched his mother rise up the ranks at a time when few women reached such administrative heights.
"She broke some glass ceilings," Kevin says. "She was a get-it-done person and just absolutely selfless."
It was her passion for nursing and for her students that led his father, Ken, to donate a portion of his estate to establish an endowed scholarship in memory of Millie, who also founded the nursing program at Miles Community College. A retired police officer and respected city judge, Ken's commitment to Miles City ran deep. Leaving a gift of improved health care to the area seemed a natural decision, and the best way to honor Millie's life.
"My dad said it was the last thing he could do for his wife, to show how much her loved her," Kevin recalls.
The Millie & Ken Hom Nursing Scholarship Endowment was the first endowment established at Holy Rosary Healthcare Foundation, and its impact has been profound. Each year, more than $10,000 will be awarded to Montana students pursuing nursing degrees at various levels. The endowment supports a worthwhile cause with a very practical benefit — and every donation counts.
"You're helping people in your community," Kevin says. "And you're investing in a generation who's ultimately going to be your caregivers."
He is grateful to the Foundation staff who made it easy for his father to build an endowment exactly as he wished, with impact that will last beyond his lifetime.
Create Your Legacy
Support your community and the next generation of healthcare providers with a future gift. Contact Office of Gift Planning at 303.812.6478 or sclhealth.plannedgiving@imail.org to learn about your giving options.