WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2026 – Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington has received a grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF in support of a collaborative effort to strengthen the healthcare workforce and expand career opportunities for frontline workers through a pathway initiative to meet the evolving healthcare needs in the Washington, D.C. region.
The Bedford Falls Pathfinder program is designed to create long-term, sustainable workforce development by investing in local talent already serving vulnerable populations while leveraging on local partners and resources. It is supported by a multi-year grant from The Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF and developed in partnership with Catholic Charities DC. Research will also be conducted by NORC of the University of Chicago throughout the program to share learning and impact with a broader community.
Each participant in the program will receive individualized, wraparound case management services that will contribute to the participant’s successful completion of the training program. This includes addressing barriers faced by the participant, while offering support in the areas of housing, food assistance, educational needs, and more.
“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system,” said CEO and president Jim Malloy. “They spend so much time with patients, caring for them, advocating for them, and being their constant presence. But there’s a shortage. Thanks to the Bedford Falls Foundation, Catholic Charities DC will support future nurses as they embark on their education and training, making sure they have all the support they need to complete the requirement, achieve licensing and join this essential field of compassionate professionals, where they are so desperately needed.”
The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation, and the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF, its associate donor advised fund, were each established by Bill Conway Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of the global investment firm the Carlyle Group, and his late wife, Joanne Barkett Conway. The shared mission of their nursing philanthropy is to remove barriers to a high-quality nursing education and address the critical nursing workforce shortage. In addition to nursing, the Foundation also supports health and human service initiatives in Washington, D.C. that provide pathway opportunities aimed at strengthening community well-being and access to care for our most vulnerable populations.
“The partnership and collaboration on this initiative with our established partners is deeply meaningful to our Foundation,” said Bill Conway. “Supporting pathways for individuals to become registered nurses and advancing the broader health and human services – helps build a stronger community and healthier future for all of us.”
Media: For additional information, contact Catholic Charities DC’s communications department at communications@cc-dc.org.
About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Charities DC is the largest independent social services agency in the Metropolitan D.C. area. As the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic Charities DC invests in communities by providing critical services to hundreds of thousands of people in need throughout the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland. The organization works tirelessly to give help that empowers and hope that lasts to those it serves regardless of background, belief or circumstance. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org and follow us on social media @CCADW.