$15 million naming gift from Helen and David Baszucki helps establish a school of nursing- brings their philanthropic giving over the $100 million mark
Philanthropist couple Helen and David Baszucki have made a $15 million landmark investment in the future of nursing education with a major gift to Montage Health, establishing the new Montage Health Helen Baszucki School of Nursing in Monterey County, California.
The funding—described by local healthcare leaders as generational in scope—will underwrite the creation of two urgently needed academic pathways: a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.
The gift arrives at a critical time for both the region and the profession. California, like much of the country, faces a deep shortage of registered nurses and advanced practice clinicians. Local hospitals have struggled to recruit enough nurses to sustain the area’s growing patient load, particularly following the pandemic-driven exodus of healthcare workers.
Montage Health’s leadership sees the new school as a lifeline for developing homegrown talent—professionals who will be educated locally, trained locally, and remain in the community to strengthen the continuum of care.
Helen Baszucki, whose name the school will proudly bear, has long expressed a personal commitment to education and mental health. Together with her husband, David—best known as the founder and CEO of Roblox Corporation—the couple has become increasingly visible in philanthropic circles for their data-driven approach to improving health outcomes.
Their generosity often reflects a dual focus on innovation and inclusion, from supporting biomedical research to advancing community-based healthcare initiatives.
In this case, their investment in Montage Health reflects a belief that sustainable progress begins with people and education. The Baszuckis’ commitment is intended not just to finance buildings or curricula, but to empower a new generation of nurses and nurse leaders positioned to meet 21st-century challenges—from digital health integration to chronic disease management and equitable rural care delivery.
For Montage Health, the creation of a full nursing school represents a defining institutional milestone. Historically affiliated with local hospital training programs and community college partnerships, the system has long identified the absence of a dedicated university-level nursing education pipeline as a key barrier to meeting regional staffing needs.
The new Baszucki School of Nursing will enable students from Monterey County and beyond to earn both undergraduate and advanced degrees without leaving the area, bringing a level of academic depth and stability that has been missing from the region for decades.
Community leaders have hailed the gift as a force multiplier. Beyond addressing immediate workforce shortages, the Baszuckis’ philanthropy is expected to stimulate collaborative research, public–private partnerships, and continuing education opportunities for practicing nurses seeking to advance into leadership roles.
The inclusion of a Master of Science in Nursing program—focused on clinical expertise, education, and administration—signals a long-term vision rooted in professional development and self-sufficiency.
This donation is also emblematic of a broader pattern emerging among next-generation philanthropists who seek to make a measurable impact through strategically targeted, systems-level investments.
For the Baszuckis, whose philanthropic portfolio increasingly centers on brain health, education, and technological innovation, supporting nursing education represents a practical and deeply human expression of those values. Their engagement reflects the growing intersection between technology leadership and social responsibility—a space where data, empathy, and community all converge.
As the Montage Health Helen Baszucki School of Nursing begins to take shape, plans are already underway to recruit faculty, develop curriculum frameworks, and initiate partnerships with regional healthcare providers.
The first cohorts of students will eventually staff local hospitals, clinics, and outreach programs, embodying the Baszuckis’ commitment to building capacity from within.
Over time, the school is expected to fill existing workforce gaps and serve as a model for how philanthropic investment can recalibrate regional healthcare ecosystems.
Through this visionary donation, Helen and David Baszucki have translated a national problem—the shortage of qualified nurses—into a local opportunity. Their support ensures that future caregivers in Monterey County will have access to rigorous, state-of-the-art training while staying rooted in the community they serve.
It is a gift that invests equally in knowledge, compassion, and the enduring vitality of healthcare itself.