Villa Maria College

Grants Office

Grants are a critical component of Villa Maria College's fundraising efforts. They allow us to support existing programs and provide the means to start new ones.  This office works closely with the college president, vice presidents and faculty and staff to identify needs and funding opportunities. The office is responsible for both the development of grants and their management.

CONTACT US:

Mary Robinson
Director of Grants and Corporate and Foundation Relations
T: 716-961-1824
Email: robinsonm@villa.edu
 

Recent Grants

The Daniel and Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation and the New York State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Program (HPNAP) help to support the Food Pantry
Project Coordinator: Frank Antonucci, Director of Campus Ministry

The Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry is an example of our Franciscan values in action.  It is also one of the many ways that our college community lives out the mission. The pantry is open three days a week throughout the year and provides supplementary meals for over 1,000 clients each month. The program is unique in that it not only collects, processes and distributes food to clients in five zip codes, but, also provides clothing, professional counseling, vocational training opportunities, housing referrals, and job hunting resources.  The pantry received funding support for the 2009-2010 academic year from the New York State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Program (HPNAP) and a grant in the amount of $2,000 from the Daniel and Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation.


The McLain Foundation Supports Service
Project Coordinator: Dr. Kim Kotz


“This day changed my life,” was the response from a Villa Maria College student who participated in the September 12 Intercollegiate Service Day in collaboration with St. Bonaventure University.  That morning, 45 members of the Villa Maria College community boarded a bus funded by a $750 grant from the McLain Foundation.  The original plan was to work on service projects in the Olean, NY area, but due to the damage from the August flooding in neighboring Gowanda, NY, the groups determined that area had the greatest need.

Volunteers helped to clean up a river bed and drainage area, and demolished several structures that were so badly damaged that they could not be salvaged.  Students worked and talked with Gowanda residents who lost their homes in the flood.  Students were saddened by the devastation they saw, but the mood on campus after the event was very positive because every volunteer knew he or she had made a difference that weekend.  More than one life was changed on September 12, thanks to the generosity of the McLain Foundation.


Sam’s Club Supports Summer Youth Program
Project Coordinator: Ann Rubin, Director of Life Long Learning and Workforce Development 

A generous community grant from Sam’s Club in the amount of $1,000 allowed Villa Maria College and the Workforce Corporation of Buffalo and Erie County to offer a program for academic support and introduction to the collegiate experience for 10, at-risk and economically disadvantaged local youth assigned to Villa Maria College for the employment and workplace competencies program. This was the second grant received for such work from Sam's Club.

 

The Harry Chapin Foundation
Project Coordinator: Judith Piskun, Associate Professor 

Funded by a $2,476.85 grant from the Harry Chapin Foundation, Villa Maria College and Every Person Influences Children (EPIC), addressed the need to provide parenting and literacy skills for families on a local level by offering EPIC’s award winning parenting and literacy programs at Pine Hill Primary School, located on the border of the city of Buffalo and the town of Cheektowaga.  Parenting workshops are based on current research and literature. All groups integrate an adult education process which assumes that adults have life experiences that can add to the group's learning. 


James H. Cummings Foundation
Project Coordinator: James Kelley, Assistant Professor

A $10,000 grant from the James H. Cummings Foundation funded a Mettler Diathermy machine to give students experience with industry standard modalities and provide valuable additional training while supporting the hands on teaching and learning strategies currently in place in the Physical Therapist Assistant program, which is currently the only program of its type accredited in Erie County.
 

M&T Bank Lunchtime Music Series 2009-2010
Project Coordinator: Dr. Slyvia Grmela 

A grant in the amount of $2,950 from M&T Bank funds the Lunchtime Music Series at Villa Maria College. Performances take place during campus hours from 12:30-1:30 and are scheduled one Thursday per month. Concerts are free and are open to all Villa Maria College students, faculty, staff and the general public. The 2009-2010 performance calendar included: 

  • October 15, 2009 - Eric Crittenden and his Juke Joint Blu Bank
  • November 5, 2009 - Colleen Williams Trio
  • December 3, 2009 -  Babik
  • January 21, 2010 -  Andrew Marino
  • February 18, 2010 -  West African Drumming with Bernard Woma
  • March 18, 2010 -  Emily Tworek-Helenbrook
  • April 24, 2010 - Jonothan Golove Improv Trio


Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
Project Coordinator: Sandra Reicis, Assistant Professor 

Funding in the amount of $51,554 has been used to improve the technology offered to interior design students by purchasing 15 desktop computers and one instructor station capable of supporting current industry-standard computer assisted drawing software (CAD).  Desktop computers will be used for student projects as well as for classroom work.  The ability to run updated copies of software will ensure students are receiving cutting-edge training.


New York Legislative Grants: New York State Senate, New York State Assembly
Project Coordinator: Chrisitne Palczewski, Director of Computer Services 

Local initiative funding in the amount of $10,000 secured with the support of the Western New York Assembly Delegation including Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak, 143rd District and $51,253 in initiative funding secured with the support of Senator William T.  Stachowski, 58th District will be used to support campus wide wireless internet service or Wi-Fi. 

In addition to expanded and enhanced opportunities for online learning, research, classroom presentations, advisement, meetings and collaboration, campus wide Wi-Fi will allow the college to make better use of the physical plant.  As Villa Maria College transitions to an institution offering several baccalaureate programs, demand for space continues to increase.  The success of space-intensive art programs, increased enrollment, and new offerings are stretching existing capacity.  Currently, the only locations on campus with Wi-Fi access are the library and the cafeteria.  Expanding Wi-Fi capability will allow for more flexible and effective use of all available space.