Venice seniors support local college student through educational grant

Venice-native Natalie Blackburn will graduate from the University of South Florida (USF) on May 11 thanks in part to the financial support of seniors living at Village On The Isle (VOTI), a Life Plan Community in Venice. Blackburn is one of the latest beneficiaries of the VOTI Educational Grants Program, a resident-funded scholarship designed to support and encourage the education of VOTI employees and their dependent children.

The scholarship provided Blackburn $5,250 per year to support her college education. She will graduate from USF with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a concentration in biological and social health sciences and has plans to become a registered nurse (RN).

“Our mission at VOTI is to serve our residents, staff and community,” said Doug Feller, CEO of Village On The Isle. “We want people like Natalie to follow their dreams because we care about our employees and their futures; not just their future at VOTI. The grants program allows our staff to pursue higher education and make progress toward those dreams with support from our residents and community.”

The program is open to full-time, part-time, salaried, seasonal and PRN employees who are seeking to earn an undergraduate or graduate-level degree or professional or trade certificate from an accredited school. Employees are eligible after 6-12 months of continuous service and can receive up to $7,000 per year for approved courses. Dependent children of VOTI employees are also eligible for up to $2,000 per calendar year. Applicants can apply for financial support every semester.

The grants program is resident-led and funded. All money for the grants program is collected through resident donations and residents review applications and decide who receives the funds each semester.

“Over the years, our staff become like family to our residents, so having a positive impact on their future becomes personal to them,” said Karen Madden, PHR, SHRM-CP, HR/Community Engagement Director at VOTI. “Those residents who donate to the grants program are passionate about the personal growth of our staff through education. Many of them have had a career in education or are driven by their own personal experience.”

Blackburn started working as a server at VOTI in 2021 during her junior year at Venice High School. She continued as a seasonal employee while attending USF and worked at the community while home on school breaks.

“When I’ve come back over school breaks, the residents are always asking me how classes are going,” said Blackburn. “It’s not just about giving you money – they are really invested in you and your future. It makes you excited to go back to work because you want to tell the residents what you’ve been doing.”

Blackburn added that some residents have gone as far as to share educational resources that may support her in her journey to becoming a nurse. Others prefer to swap music with her and the culinary staff. These connections have been her favorite part of working at the community.

“It’s like having 100 extra grandmas and grandpas,” she added. The connection to residents and financial support have also been a motivator in her studies.

“When you have someone who is funding your education, you want to make them proud,” she said. “School can be stressful, but knowing you have the financial support and community support is very cool and motivating.”

Blackburn is one of three employees to receive grant money this year. In total, the community has provided $11,219 in scholarships in 2025. In 2024, the program awarded 13 grants totaling $23,776.

For Blackburn, the support has meant the world.

“It’s honestly relieved so much stress,” she said. “I can’t say thank you enough to the residents.”

To learn more about working at Village On The Isle, visit villageontheisle.com/careers.

About Village On The Isle

Incorporated in 1979, Village On The Isle is a nonprofit continuing care community affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The community is located less than half a mile from the Gulf of Mexico at 920 Tamiami Trail South in Venice, Fla. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and gives residents an opportunity to live independently in apartments and cottages, then transition to higher levels of care with caregiver assistance as their needs warrant. For more information, visit www.VillageOnTheIsle.com.