Pictured from left to right: Outreach President/CEO, Lori Chaffers, Anne Marie Tully, and Richard Rutkoski.
We are deeply honored by the opportunity to establish the Susan M. Tully Memorial Fund at Outreach – Center for Community Resources. This fund would create a lasting legacy, one that transforms lives by opening doors to education, healthcare careers, and economic self-sufficiency for adults who need only the right support to succeed. Every year, adults in our community sit just one credential away from a meaningful career in healthcare. This fund would be the bridge that gets them there.
In Memory of Susan M. Tully
Susan M. Tully was born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania — just a few miles from where this fund will make its mark. She went on to earn a B.A. in Economics from the University of Dallas and an M.S. in Economics from Texas A&M University, building a distinguished career in economic development and workforce innovation that spanned more than three decades.
Susan dedicated her professional life to strengthening communities and helping workers compete and succeed. As Administrative Director of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), she provided training and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers to help them grow and remain globally competitive — and even in retirement, she remained committed to that mission, most recently leading an effort that saved 80 jobs and is projected to create approximately 20,000 more across Texas. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Trade and International Relations at the Texas Department of Economic Development, connecting Texas companies with global business opportunities. She also served the City of Austin in municipal finance and began her career doing econometric research and industry analysis at the Bureau of Business Research at UT-Austin.
Throughout her career, Susan was recognized for her honesty, her integrity, and her deep empathy. She was someone who was always there with a kind word or encouragement for others — even when carrying her own burdens. She touched the lives of more people than she could possibly have known.
At the end of her life, Susan received outstanding and compassionate care from the dedicated staff at St. Mary’s Villa Nursing Home. It is fitting — and deeply meaningful — that the fund established in her memory will help create the next generation of those very caregivers: the nursing assistants, allied health workers, and healthcare professionals who show up every day with skill, compassion, and dedication to the people in their care.
Susan grew up right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This fund brings her legacy home.
The Fund — Purpose & Vision
The Susan M. Tully Memorial Fund is established as a permanently restricted scholarship fund held internally at Outreach – Center for Community Resources. The fund will provide direct financial support to economically disadvantaged adults pursuing educational credentials that prepare them for careers in healthcare, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), and other allied health and advanced healthcare degree programs.
The fund honors Susan’s memory by investing in people who face real barriers — poverty, lack of a high school diploma, involvement with the justice system, limited access to training — but who demonstrate the drive and commitment to build a better future. Susan spent her career opening doors for workers and communities. This fund carries that spirit forward, right here in the community where she was born.
Eligible participants include:
- Economically disadvantaged adults who lack a high school diploma or GED and are enrolled or enrolling at Outreach to pursue their credential
- Active participants in any Outreach program working to pursue a healthcare career: GED Services, Workforce Development, Reentry, Court-Related Services, Young Adult Center, and others
- Adults who have completed their GED through Outreach and are ready to enroll in CNA or other healthcare training
Healthcare Training Pathways Supported by Outreach for participants
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification — short-term, paid training with immediate entry into healthcare employment through Allied Services
- Connections to other health occupations and programs: Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, Patient Care Technician, Home Health Aide, and others through Allied Services and regional partners
- Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) and Registered Nursing (RN) programs at regional colleges and vocational institutions
- GED services to facilitate completion as a prerequisite for healthcare program enrollment for those in need of a GED credential will be provided by Outreach
- Advanced healthcare degrees at two- and four-year institutions for participants ready to pursue post-secondary education with the institutions providing assistance with financial aid forms and additional supportive services