Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Grant

HILBERT RECEIVES MAJOR GRANT

from the MOTHER CABRINI HEALTH FOUNDATION

Hilbert College was recently awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation . This transformational grant, the largest from a foundation in Hilbert’s history, will be used to fund and support the creation of the Franciscan Advocacy and Resource Center at the College . The new Center will be designed to help students overcome life issues and support and strengthen their ability to transition and thrive in their educational setting and beyond .

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, non-profit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services . The Foundation, which is named in memory of a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, provides flexible support for new and innovative approaches that enhance health and wellness across New York State . “This is a very significant day for Hilbert College,” Hilbert President Michael S. Brophy, Ph.D. said. “We are extremely grateful to The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for their generous commitment to our mission. The new Franciscan Advocacy and Resource Center at Hilbert will truly be lifechanging for the students we serve and the community at large.”

Led by Jeffrey Papia, Vice President of Mission Integration and Campus Ministry, the formation of the Center will centralize five separate intervention strategies to ensure student success . These interventions are:

• Wellness Center – Physical & Mental Health and Well-Being; • SOAR: Success, Opportunity, Advising and Retention, including shuttle bus service for Say Yes and other City of Buffalo students; • Campus Ministry Outreach Program: clothing and food insecurity; • Adult Services Initiative: social services and referrals; • Learning Commons: space for collaborative learning, educational technology and community building .

Papia spoke about the importance of this grant to Hilbert’s students, “Often times, what stands in the way of a student’s success is not their academic ability, but the challenges they face in life . In the spirit of Mother Colette Hilbert and in keeping with the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of St . Joseph, we aim to serve and support our students, both inside and outside the classroom . Thanks to the Cabrini Foundation, this funding will also provide for the establishment of a new position to further diversity and inclusion initiatives at Hilbert . Our students will have the resources they need to be not only successful, but also happy and healthy . ”