Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation

January 2010

 Board of Trustees Spotlight

Ralph J. Vanner, Sr.

It gives us great pleasure to introduce Ralph J. Vanner, Sr., Senior Chairman of Vanner Insurance Agency and Secretary of the Kenmore Mercy Foundation Board of Trustees.   

Mr. Vanner was born in Buffalo, New York and attended the University of Buffalo before beginning his insurance career in 1962 working for a local insurance agency.  In 1967 he formed his own insurance agency, Ralph J. Vanner & Associates, where he currently serves as Senior Chairman.  In 1987 he further expanded business operations by establishing a joint venture with the Hunt Real Estate Corporation.  This operation, Hunt-Vanner & Associates, specializes in serving the insurance needs of new homeowners in Western New York.  In 2009 Ralph J. Vanner & Associates was renamed Vanner Insurance Agency and continues as a full service insurance agency.

Mr. Vanner is a member of several organizations and clubs including the Professional Insurance Agents Association, Independent Insurance Agency Association of Western New York, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers & the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Vanner is also the past president of The 100 Club of Western New York and has served on the Town of Tonawanda Zoning Board.  Mr. Vanner’s extensive community service in the Town of Tonawanda achieved him the Donald A. Miller Award presented by the Town of Tonawanda Republican Committee.

Mr. Vanner has been a long time financial supporter of the Foundation and has involved Vanner Insurance Agency in sponsoring numerous events such as The Bob A. Saldanha Memorial Golf & Wine Event & A Tribute to Angels.

 Auxiliary presents Foundation with $70,000 Contribution

Pictured above: Foundation staff Sue Jandzinski, Annual Fund Director, Christina Lapsley, Development Coordinator, and Staci Helman, Finance Assistant, with Kenmore Mercy Hospital Auxiliary Treasurer Joan LeBlanc

The Kenmore Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, under the leadership of President Margaret Was, presented the Kenmore Mercy Foundation with a check for $70,000 from the organizations many fundraising efforts in 2009. The Auxiliary raises money throughout the year to provide much needed support to Kenmore Mercy Hospital. The Auxiliary’s very successful Gift Shop donated $31,000 while sales such as jewelry, books & plants raised $21,000. The organization also has a sewing group that makes & sells homemade gifts and donated over $10,000 this year. For information on joining the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Auxiliary please contact Membership Chair Lucille Grieco at 836-6564.

Tribute to Angels Breaks Fundraising Record

Pictured above:  Event chairs Katherine Koessler Juhasz & James Rykowskie with Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees Richard and Karen Penfold (center)

 A Tribute to Angels, to benefit Kenmore Mercy Hospital, was held November 20^th at the Buffalo/Niagara Marriott.  Event chair Katherine Koessler Juhasz and vice chair James Rykowski, both members of the Kenmore Mercy Foundation Board of Trustees, proudly chaired the most successful Tribute to Angels event to date, raising $140,000 net of expenses for Kenmore Mercy Hospital. 

This year’s Sister Mary Mechtilde Memorial Award honorees included Nancy Dobson of Uniland Development Company and Mark Notarius of Premium Wine and Spirits.  The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Richard and Karen Penfold, longtime supporters of Kenmore Mercy Hospital and the Foundation. 

The Sister Mary Mechtilde Memorial Award was established in 1980 by the Foundation to honor outstanding individuals in our community who have demonstrated a dedication to community service, visionary leadership and the ideals of unselfish service towards others – qualities exemplified by Sister Mechtilde, foundress and first administrator of Kenmore Mercy Hospital. The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to honor past recipients of the Sister Mary Mechtilde Memorial Award who remain active and supportive of the Foundation, the hospital and our community today. 

Major sponsors of the event include the Penfold family, Petri Baking Products, Inc., Uniland Development Company and Premier Group.

Additional pictures can be found in the Special Events drop down!

Since 1980, the Kenmore Mercy Foundation has provided key financial support to Kenmore Mercy Hospital through an extensive development program that encourages public and private philanthropic support.

For further information about the Foundation call (716) 447-6204 or email kenmoremercyfoundation.org

The Insider Newsletter is a quarterly production of Kenmore Mercy Foundation.