The Sisters of Notre Dame National Ministry Corporation Board of Directors recently announced the establishment of a new foundation to support health and wellness, education and career development and quality of life in eastern Kentucky.

The SND Eastern Kentucky Foundation officially opened in Morehead on January 1, 2025, with a goal of continuing the ministry the Sisters have provided to the region for the past six decades.

In 1963, eight Sisters came to Morehead to work alongside Dr. Claire Louise Caudill and nurse Susie Halblieb to establish St. Claire Hospital.

Through the years, countless Sisters have served in every role imaginable in the health care system, from nurses to dieticians to pastoral care to CEO.

The hospital’s original mission of “proclaiming God’s goodness through a healing ministry to the people of eastern Kentucky” has been extremely meaningful to the Sisters of Notre Dame organization through the years. With the recent partnership of UK and St. Claire, the Sisters of Notre Dame released their sponsorship of the hospital but greatly desire to stay in the region and continue serving as they have for the last 61 years.  The establishment of this new foundation will allow them to continue and expand their mission for years to come.

Contributions made to support UK St. Claire, including gifts to accounts held by the former St. Claire Foundation, as well as contributions to support the new priorities of the organization, will be received and administered through the SND EKY Foundation. The first grant application cycle will open on July 1, 2025.