Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Announces Renaissance Fellowship Fund
Internship Program Developed in Partnership with the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, First Niagara

November 30, 2007 (BUFFALO, NY) – The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) today announced the creation of the Renaissance Fellowship Fund. Developed in partnership with the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation (BRF) and First Niagara, the Fund will allow Renaissance Fellows to participate in established internship programs at BNMC life sciences research institutions. 

The BNMC is dedicated to the cultivation of a world-class medical campus for clinical care, research, education, and entrepreneurship in downtown Buffalo. Life sciences represent a field of study where educational enhancement and exposure is critical, especially given the investment made here at the BNMC.  Support from the First Niagara Charitable Foundation and BRF will enable BNMC to work toward fulfilling the educational excellence component of its mission. 

“We are pleased for the opportunity to partner with the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation and First Niagara Charitable Foundation to develop this internship program,” said Matthew K. Enstice, Executive Director of the BNMC. “Through the Renaissance Fellowship Fund, more students will be exposed to the medical campus, the BNMC institutions, and a research experience in downtown Buffalo – instilling in them and those they know a hope for the future of this community based on our fundamental life sciences strengths.”

“The primary goal of the program is to retain Buffalo-area students in high paying WNY careers,” said Thomas J. Comer, Jr., President of BRF. “The Renaissance Fellowship directly supports our Foundation’s mission to build a better Buffalo for our youth and enable their bright future right here in our community.” 

"First Niagara is proud to make our support of charitable organizations a priority," said Daniel E. Cantara, WNY Regional President and Executive Vice President of First Niagara. "Supporting organizations like the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, which have such a positive impact on the quality of life here, is a great opportunity for us to help make a difference. By embracing the significance of giving as part of our business philosophy, we believe we are making First Niagara a better place to work and Western New York a better place to live."

About the Renaissance Fellowship Fund

Beginning in the summer of 2008, the two Renaissance Fellows will be hard at work in a facility on the medical campus.  The Fund will support at least two Renaissance Fellows every summer with a minimum scholarship of $2,500 each. Applicants must meet the requirements of the BNMC institution program to which they apply. Qualified students from the surrounding neighborhoods will get a first-hand look at what happens in the hospitals and research institutions in their own backyards.

Buffalo Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Grant Reception

Both organizations presented checks to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Grant Reception last night on the medical campus. 

In addition to the BNMC, other BRF grant recipients this year include: Upstate New York Transplant Services, University Heights Community Development Association, Catholic Central School, Gerard Place, New Life Residential Center, and the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo.  All awardees were invited to attend the reception and speak about their organization's mission.

“The event is designed so that our directors have the opportunity to become more involved with the organizations who receive our grants, in addition to financial support,” added Comer.

About the BNMC
The BNMC is dedicated to the cultivation of a world-class medical campus for clinical care, research, education, and entrepreneurship on 100 acres in downtown Buffalo. It is home to the region’s top clinical, research, and medical education institutions, including: University at Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired, Kaleida Health, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo Medical Group, Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, and Upstate New York Transplant Services. More than 8,000 people come to work at the medical campus every day. Together, the BNMC institutions host over one million patient visits annually and account for approximately $1.5 billion in economic impact each year.  The medical campus consists of more than 4.5 million square feet of research, clinical, and support space. www.bnmc.org

About the BRF
The BRF is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Their mission is to retain a bright future for area youth in WNY by "Building a Better Buffalo.” www.buffalorenaissance.org

About First Niagara
First Niagara Bank was founded in 1870 and continues a legacy of giving. In addition to awarding grants from its foundation, First Niagara contributes leadership, time, talent and treasure to community-minded agencies through corporate donations, sponsorships and volunteerism. www.fnfg.com.

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