July 16, 2026 — In their first philanthropic partnership, the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF and the Hanover Family Foundation have come together to provide comprehensive student success initiatives at the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON).
This grant will help strengthen the future healthcare workforce in the Mid-South region. The funding will provide wraparound services designed to ensure students successfully progress through their undergraduate nursing experience. It also establishes a Dean’s Emergency Fund to provide short-term financial assistance for students facing unexpected hardships that could otherwise disrupt their education. Representatives from the Bedford Falls Foundation, including its founder Bill Conway Jr., and members of the Hanover family visited the University of Memphis campus in the Fall of 2025 to meet with University leadership, faculty and students to learn more about LCON’s impact on the Memphis and Mid-South healthcare community.
“We are proud to partner with the Hanover family to support the University of Memphis in preparing the next generation of nurses,” said Conway. “By supporting students throughout their academic journey, we hope to ensure they make it to graduation and become nurses who can care for themselves, their family and the greater Memphis area.”
The Bedford Falls Foundation and its related donor-advised fund were established by Conway, cofounder and co-chairman of the global investment firm the Carlyle Group, and his late wife Joanne Barkett Conway. Their shared nursing philanthropy is dedicated to removing financial barriers to a high-quality nursing education and supporting educational partners in addressing the nation’s critical nursing workforce shortage.
“Bill and his late wife Joanne built the Bedford Falls Foundation into one of the nation’s leading champions for nursing education,” said Adam Hanover, co-founder and CEO of Union Main Group and son of UofM alumni Marc and Jan Hanover. “After 15 years of working together, I asked Bill if our family could partner with the Bedford Falls Foundation to bring its mission to Memphis. We’re proud to support the next generation of nurses who will strengthen healthcare across Memphis and the Mid-South.”
The Hanover family is a fourth-generation Memphis family with roots in the city dating back to the early 20th century. Through Union Main Group and its family foundations, the family invests in businesses and civic initiatives that help make Memphis a city where talented people want to live, businesses want to grow and future generations choose to build their lives.
“This generous gift helps remove barriers for our students, allowing them to focus on gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to fulfill their dreams of becoming nurses who will serve their communities and improve the lives of those in need,” said Dr. Debra Kelly, interim dean of the Loewenberg College of Nursing.
The Loewenberg College of Nursing prepares compassionate, highly skilled nursing professionals through innovative education, research and community engagement. The college serves students across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs and plays a vital role in strengthening the health care workforce throughout Tennessee and the Mid-South.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Hanover family and The Bedford Falls Foundation,” said UofM President Bill Hardgrave. “The support from these tremendous partners will assist us greatly in our efforts to meet the healthcare workforce needs of our region.”
Media Contact:
Jessica Gertler
Assistant Director, University Media and Public Relations
University of Memphis
jgwbster@memphis.edu
