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Bellwether League Foundation Goes Back to School

SCHAUMBURG, IL (March 10, 2025) — When it comes to educating and informing students about the opportunities within mission-driven healthcare provider-based supply chain management, Bellwether League Foundation™ (BLF) has it covered

BLF offers three programs to promote interest in healthcare supply chain management careers through its philantropic and professional development activities:

Collegiate Capstone Projects involve student-led healthcare supply chain research studies in conjunction with a local healthcare provider organization that enables students to explore real-world supply chain challenges and connect them to supply chain executives from leading healthcare organizations. BLF provides a $5,000 grant to the winning student team and an opportunity to present its project research during BLF's annual Bellwether Leadership Symposium that happens as part of its annual Bellwether League Foundation Induction & Recognition Event (BLFIRE).
Dedicated scholarships contribute to funding college-bound high school students who plan to study supply chain curricula, current college students who major in supply chain-related careers and professionals who pursue continuing education through associations and universities. Each of the three $1,000 scholarships, named after an inducted Hall of Famer, represents a theme: Critical thinking around leadership development and succession planning, career and professional mentoring for supply chain advancement and performance excellence, and entrepreneurial motivations and performance in healthcare operations. Download 2025 scholarship applications athttps://www.bellwetherleague.org/scholarships.php.
The submission deadline is July 1.
Collegiate outreach panels are held at college campuses and focus on career and job opportunities within mission-driven healthcare provider-based supply chain management and how that compares with opportunities in other industries.

BLF welcomes the opportunity to work together with healthcare organizations, colleges and universities to educate, inform and motivate students about the real-life and real-world benefits of mission-driven supply chain management. BLF aims to encourage interest in healthcare supply chain as a noble career of serving others as they gain valuable experience to fortify their future.

BLF salutes its educational sponsors this year — GHX, Vizient, Allina Health and BJC HealthCare.

If you would like more information about BLF's philanthropic and professional development offerings, please contact Rachel K. Anderson, (Future Famers Class of 2023), Vice President, Supply Chain, DCH Health System, Tuscaloosa, AL, via email at rachel.anderson2@dchsystem.com.

If you would like more information about BLF, please contact Rick Barlow, Co-Founder and Executive Director, via email at rickdanabarlow@bellwetherleague.org and visit BLF's website at https://www.bellwetherleague.org/.

About Bellwether League Foundation

Bellwether League Foundation™ (BLF) is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization that offers programs to educate, endow and evaluate professionals in healthcare supply chain performance excellence. BLF accomplishes this through its primary operation, the Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership Hall of Fame™, its growing philanthropic efforts, which include Collegiate Capstone Projects and scholarships and its various multimedia properties.

The Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership Hall of Fame™ evaluates and validates professionals submitted for consideration in its three award programs: Bellwether Honorees, Ammer Honorees and Future Famers. The Hall of Fame also offers educational and professional development content via the annual Bellwether Leadership Symposium and its "Leaders & Luminaries" multimedia properties of online and printed content.

The Hall of Fame selects deceased, retired and currently active professionals with a minimum of 25 years of exemplary service and leadership performance in supply chain operations that meet its criteria to be recognized publicly as Bellwether Class Honorees.

Future Famers represent supply chain professionals early in their healthcare careers (first 10-12 years) who do not yet qualify for Bellwether consideration but have contributed meaningfully to the profession and industry.

Honorees who receive the "Dean S. Ammer Award for Healthcare Supply Chain Performance Excellence" represent noteworthy executives and professionals in the middle of their careers who, through their innovative leadership and influential project management experience, best exemplify the practice and spirit of healthcare supply chain performance excellence.

To date, the Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership Hall of Fame has inducted 148 innovators, leaders and pioneers in healthcare supply chain management in seven distinct categories: Provider-Based Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Distribution, Group Purchasing, Consulting Services, Academia and Media. The Hall of Fame also has recognized 42 Future Famers and six Ammer Honorees.

BLF's philanthropy efforts support capstone educational and developmental projects, grants and scholarships to college-bound high school students who plan to study supply chain curricula, current college students who major in supply chain-related careers and professionals who pursue continuing education through associations and universities.

BLF salutes its seven sustaining sponsors at the Founding/Platinum level — GHX, HealthTrust, Northwestern Medicine, Owens & Minor, Premier, Vizient and Wingfoot Media — and more than 20 additional sustaining sponsors at the Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. This dedicated group represents manufacturers, distributors, group purchasing organizations (GPOs), integrated delivery networks (IDNs), consulting firms, professional associations and media outlets. BLF also appreciates and thanks its devoted corporate and professional donors for their generosity, participation and partnership.

Launched in late July 2007 by a group of influential veterans in the healthcare supply chain industry, Bellwether League Foundation began as an independent 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation that upgraded to an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in January 2021.

Or visit Bellwether League Foundation.