Canisius College

Canisius Receives $836,000 Grant for Parking Pavilion

(from l. to r.) Vice President for College Relations John J. Hurley and Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. look on as Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-Fairport, NY) speaks during the news conference announcing the grant.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-Fairport, NY), ranking member of the House Rules Committee, helped Canisius College secure an $836,000 federal grant to be used for the renovation of the parking pavilion connected to the BlueCross/BlueShield building.  The announcement was made during a news conference held on the Canisius College campus on Thursday, January 12 with Representative Slaughter, Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., and John J. Hurley, vice president for college relations.

“Canisius College dedicates itself to educating young men and women who will improve their communities,” said Rep. Slaughter.  “Indeed, all of the work they do, such as these renovations, has that goal in mind.  I’m proud to have the opportunity to help Canisius better itself at the same time that it is improving the lives of the residents of Buffalo.”

Canisius has invested $115 million in its campus over the past 12 years, undertaking 17 major capital projects that have enhanced its regional reputation while anchoring its neighborhood in central Buffalo.

“During this time, no other business or institution has invested more of its own money in the city of Buffalo than Canisius College,” said Father Cooke.

According to Father Cooke, the college’s next major step is the purchase and development of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building and parking pavilion.  “The $836,000 transportation grant that you bring to us today, will be of great assistance to the college in completing this project,” said Father Cooke. 

The Blue Cross/Blue Shield building will allow Canisius to develop a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary science center that will bring all of the college’s science programs under one roof and allow the college to develop exciting new interdisciplinary ventures.  Click here to read the full story.

Campus Ministry Accompanies Students on Winter Service Trip 

Ellen Leutze '08 (right) tutors a student in the after school program at Mercy Center in the Bronx during the college's Winter Service Trip.

More than 60 Canisius students returned from New York City on January 14, following a week-long service trip in the Big Apple.  Accompanied by Campus Ministry Director Rev. John P. Bucki, S.J., Campus Minister Joseph Van Volkenburg, and former Development Officer Mary Cosgrove, the students served at 16 different sites throughout the city, including shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries. 

“Jesus sent disciples out in small groups to minister those in need and Winter Service Week is based on a similar notion,” explains Father Bucki.  “This service trip enables students to experience a variety of ongoing ministries that are present in an urban setting.”

Students squeezed a lot of work into a small amount of time.  Among the various service projects in which they participated: They provided pastoral care to patients in city hospitals; volunteered at STEPS to End Family Violence and North Manhattan Improvement Corp., both social service agencies which provide legal advocacy; and they worked at city Catholic schools, including a Jesuit high school and several middle schools.  Students also established an after-school program at Mercy Center for Women and Children in the Bronx. 

"Winter service week was an amazing experience for me because I saw that I could have a positive influence on the children in just one week," says Melissa Campbell '06, who worked at the Mercy Center.    

"The winter camp that the Mercy Center runs gives children who may not have the option of attending a camp get some physical activity, help with homework and just have fun."

“Winter Service Week enables our students to see that New York City is a place that represents great wealth and power, contrasted with people in great need,” said Van Volkenburg.  “It provides them with an opportunity to work and live with people in need and those who care for them.”

This was the fifth consecutive year that Campus Ministry hosted a Winter Service Week for students.