Our History
The Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation was created from a vision rooted in generosity, shaped by personal experience, and built on a deep belief in the transformative power of education and healthcare. Its story begins with the foundation’s namesake who spent her life giving back.
In the early 1980s, as the couple looked toward the future, they began planning how to use their estate to support causes close to their hearts. It was during this time that they began working with financial advisor Tom McDonald in Cleveland, Ohio who helped the couple lay the groundwork for what would become the Edwards philanthropic legacy. After Jimmy’s passing in 1991, Joan continued to expand their charitable vision, collaborating closely with Tom to formalize plans for a foundation that would outlive them both.
A Legacy of Giving
Joan Edwards’ philanthropic impact was already well established by the time the Foundation was officially created. Together, Joan and Jimmy Edwards contributed more than $65 million to institutions in Huntington—most notably Marshall University, where their gifts funded buildings, programs, and entire academic schools. These include the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Jomie Jazz Center, and the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Joan’s giving was deeply personal. Her love of music inspired support for the performing arts, while her experiences as a patient sharpened her focus on access to quality healthcare. She believed that no one should be limited in their career ambitions simply because of where they came from or the opportunities they lacked.
From Vision to Foundation
Before her death in 2006, Joan worked to ensure that her estate would be used to support the education of future medical professionals—particularly students from communities where access to healthcare and education has historically been limited. That vision led to the formation of the Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation.
Today, the Foundation’s work is grounded in the values Joan held close: equity, opportunity, and community. It provides full scholarships, mentoring, and long-term support to students from underrepresented communities, guiding them from high school through college and medical school. And while the Foundation was created to address the shortage of doctors, its impact has been broader—supporting students who go on to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at some of the nation’s leading universities.
This is more than a scholarship. It’s a commitment to the future—student by student, community by community.
Voices of Our Scholars
Empowering Future Generations Through Science and Medicine Education
Nichola Bomani Gonzalez
Resident Physician, Lehigh Valley Health
We’re tapping into our community as Edwards Scholars, and making a network for ourselves to pass down knowledge to help others in the community succeed.
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Suhib Jamal
Pediatrician, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
I didn’t have anyone in my family to guide me through the process of medical school, so connecting with other Scholars helped me see what was possible and how to get there.
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Nichelle Ruffin
Assistant Professor, Clinical Family Medicine & Community | Penn Medicine
As the first doctor in my family, I leaned on the guidance and support I found at the Cleveland School of Science & Medicine to navigate a path I knew nothing about.
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