The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Galasso Foundation to provide Franciscan mission-based leadership training to faculty and students in the School of Health Professions at the university.

The Galasso Foundation, of Clarence, New York, provides grants to organizations that offer opportunities for education, spiritual development or the general welfare for the people of Western New York.

In applying for the grant, the Franciscan Institute outlined the uniqueness of the university’s new School of Health Professions and how the institute wanted to help in the development of the school’s mission education: “This program provides graduate and undergraduate degrees in physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, nursing, health science and public health. With your help, we would like to provide these new health care professionals with a foundation in Franciscan mission-based leadership.”

The Franciscan Institute is an educational unit of the university that promotes the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition through research, publications and educational programs. The Padua Program for Franciscan mission-based leadership is one of its educational programs that provides leaders of Franciscan institutions with training in Franciscan mission through an analysis of early Franciscan sources and modern applications in organizational development with the skills of mission integration.

“This is an exciting convergence of leadership and mission,” said Dr. Doug Pisano, founding dean of the School of Health Professions. “The grant will further the notion that to lead is to be Franciscan through the example of community, integrity and love. I look forward to working with students and faculty to build future Franciscan thinking leaders.”

Fr. David B. Couturier, O.F.M. Cap., executive director of the Franciscan Institute, thanked the Galasso Foundation for its generosity and highlighted the significance of the collaborative project with the School of Health Professions.

“We know the importance of a vibrant sense of mission for the success of educational programs,” said Fr. David. “St. Bonaventure University provides a first-class scientific education. Now, thanks to this grant, our students will learn how to be leaders with the distinctive values of compassion, integrity, community and wisdom that the Franciscan tradition is known for around the world.”

More information about the Franciscan Institute and its programs and conferences can be found at www.sbu.edu/FranciscanInstitute.