Santo William (Bill) and Marcy Curatola were strong believers in the importance and transformative power of a quality education, and were always incredibly proud of their family’s academic accomplishments. Lifelong Illinois residents and devoted sports fans, they rooted for the Chicago White Sox and the Green Bay Packers. Marcy was affectionately nicknamed “Sunshine” by Bill, as she brought light into his life and into the lives of all who knew her. In their later years, Bill and Marcy received exceptional care from multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating the impact of collaborative, patient-centered care. 
After relocating to Illinois following a lifetime on the East Coast, their granddaughter felt a renewed connection to her family’s roots and a desire to honor her grandparents’ legacy. She established the Curatola Family “Sunshine” Interprofessional Education Fund to support interprofessional education (IPE) activities within CHHS, including the Sunshine Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education. By expanding learning opportunities for students and recognizing faculty who champion IPE, she hopes the fund will help strengthen the preparation of a 
well-rounded health care workforce.
The Sunshine Interprofessional Education Fund was created to support students and faculty who believe in the power of collaboration. Would you like to help carry this mission forward by contributing to IPE or other CHHS initiatives? Reach out to Debi Gillette at dgillette@niu.edu.
