PORTLAND, Ore. (Feb. 24, 2014)—National College of Natural Medicine has announced a $1.06 million bequest from the estate of Adrienne and Percy Frazier of Missoula, Mont. Announced at a meeting of the college’s board of directors last week, the largest bequest in NCNM’s 58-year history will be used to establish the Adrienne and Percy Frazier Endowed Scholarship fund, a need-based program for both naturopathic and Chinese medicine students.
Percy Frazier, Jr. passed away Feb. 15, 2006 at the age of 94; Adrienne Frazier died Sept. 5, 2011; she was also 94. Both Fraziers served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Percy Frazier published books and stories, and was active in the Rotarians for much of his life. Adrienne Frazier taught interior decorating in the Home Economics Department at the University of Montana. The Fraziers were well-known philanthropists in their hometown of Missoula.
Adrienne and Percy Frazier were grateful patients of Dr. Christine White, a well-known naturopathic physician in Missoula who graduated from NCNM in 2001 and completed a residency before going on to private practice in family medicine. White is a past president and member of the Montana Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American Botanical Council, and the American College for the Advancement in Medicine.
NCNM Vice President of Advancement Susan K. Hunter noted that the Frazier Endowed Scholarship will be a great help to scores of students who will benefit from the financial assistance the gift will provide.
“Mrs. Frazier was very specific that her family’s investment in NCNM be used toward helping disadvantaged students. The Percy and Adrienne Frazier Scholarship will empower students to realize their dream of completing their education to become natural medicine practitioners. The memory of their generosity will grace NCNM students for years to come,” Hunter said.
Adrienne Frazier was passionate about natural medicine, Hunter noted. “Mrs. Frazier’s support of naturopathic and Chinese medicine was significant. She endorsed natural medicine so passionately that one would almost imagine that she had been an NCNM alumna! It is our hope that the Fraziers would be pleased to know that their generosity to NCNM is a gift that will grow and continue to sustain our medical students for years to come,” Hunter said.
ABOUT NCNM
Founded in Portland in 1956, NCNM is the oldest naturopathic medical school in North America and an educational leader in classical Chinese medicine and CAM research. NCNM offers three accredited four-year graduate medical degree programs in naturopathic and classical Chinese medicine, as well as a Master of Science degree in Integrative Medicine Research and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition. NCNM practitioners and students attend to approximately 40,000 patient visits per year at the campus-based NCNM Clinic and numerous low-cost community clinics located throughout the Portland area. Until July 2006, NCNM was known as the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. The name change reflects the diversity of the college’s programmatic degree offerings.