Grateful for Grants The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown have received three grants: a $25,000 grant from The Florence and Ward Beecher Foundation, dispersed over two years; a $20,000 grant award from the Youngstown Foundation; and a $2,000 award from the Home Savings Charitable Foundation. The grants will be used toward a paving project at our Motherhouse campus in Canfield, Ohio. “Our drives and parking areas accommodate visitors to and employees of the Ursuline Sisters’ Motherhouse, Ursuline Education & Wellness Center, Ursuline Center Pool, Ursuline Preschool & Kindergarten, and Ursuline Sisters Senior Living. They’re utilized by more than 1,500 people a month,” states Sister Mary McCormick, general superior. Cracks and uneven pavement are evident in this photo of “The Circle,” the drive outside the main Motherhouse entrance and parking lot for the Ursuline Sisters Senior Living residents, during our recent event, The Nun Run. Drainage concerns causing flooding of access roads and parking areas will be addressed. Broken pavement that endangers persons using assistive mobility devices and strollers will be repaired. Because of growth in demand for programs at the Motherhouse, we are adding 27-30 parking spaces and converting several existing spaces to be reserved for handicapped visitors. “We are very grateful to the Florence and Ward Beecher, Youngstown and Home Savings Charitable foundations for these grants, which will help in making our outdoors more accessible and safe for visitors,” Sister Mary continues R.T. Vernal Paving & Excavating, North Lima, will begin minor aspects of the repairs this fall with the majority of the project to be completed in spring 2020. The cost is $325,000. This capital improvement project is part of ongoing maintenance and improvements to the Motherhouse complex. Since 2012, the Ursuline Sisters have invested $8 million in property upgrades. Various grants, including previous grants from The Youngstown Foundation, and private donations have funded approximately 18% of these improvements. Jan Strasfeld, executive director of the Youngstown Foundation, presents Sister Mary McCormick, general superior of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, with a ceremonial check to signify her foundation’s $20,000 grant.