Ursuline Sisters Receive Grant from Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation

The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown have received a $250,000 grant award from the Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation of Canfield. The grant, which will be dispersed over five years, supports Ursuline Sisters Senior Living. This ministry provides safe and secure homes for independent adults age 55 and over of moderate income. The apartments are located in the Ursuline Center wing of the Ursuline Sisters Motherhouse complex on Shields Road, Canfield, Ohio, USA.

With the completion last November of the most recent phase of construction, USSL now features 21 apartments that house 23 residents. The apartments were designed with the needs of older residents in mind, featuring walk-in showers, numerous grab-bars in the bathrooms, higher electric outlets and en-suite laundry facilities. Further, two of the apartments were constructed to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“As Ursuline Sisters, we work to meet the needs of the times. We’ve expanded our Senior Living ministry to help meet the need in our community for safe and secure housing for independent mature adults of moderate income,” states Sister Mary McCormick, general superior. “This expansion creates homes for five additional people with two two-bedroom apartments and one efficiency apartment. Storage spaces for the occupants also were created.”

Residents of Ursuline Sisters Senior Living have access to numerous programs on-site offered through the Ursuline Education & Wellness Center, Sister Mary adds, such as SilverSneakers land and water classes, educational and spiritual programs.

“The Ursuline Sisters have a long history of caring for people locally and the Mahoning Valley Hospital built its reputation doing the same, though through different means,” states Mike Senchak, president and chief executive officer of the Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation. “This grant represents an investment in the future by both organizations with confidence that this collaboration provides for the well-being of mature, independent adults in our community for generations.”

The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown are Catholic nuns who, since 1874, have responded together to the most critical needs of people in northeast Ohio. In addition to Ursuline Sisters Senior Living, the Sisters’ ministries include Beatitude House, Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry, The Ursuline Education & Wellness Center, and Ursuline Preschool & Kindergarten.

“We’re very grateful for this grant from the Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation and its continued support of our vibrant ministries, as well as many other worthwhile projects in our community,” Sister Mary continues. “Mike Senchak and the MVHF board have done much good in the Mahoning Valley.

From left are Ursuline Sisters Senior Living resident Sally Dailey, Sister Mary McCormick, general superior of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, Mike Senchak, president and chief executive officer of the Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, and Peggy Eicher, director of Ursuline Sisters Senior Living.

ABOUT THE MAHONING VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation was created in 2009 after the sale of the former Mahoning Valley Hospital, an acute-care facility located in Boardman. Mike Senchak helped found the facility and served as the hospital’s president and chief executive officer during its nine-year existence. With the assets from the sale, Senchak organized the foundation in order to continue the hospital’s good work in the community.


Open House Announced for Ursuline Sisters Senior Living

The public and media are invited to an open house for our newest ministry, Ursuline Sisters Senior Living. It will be held Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Visitors may enter through the main entrance to the Motherhouse, 4250 Shields Rd.

Sister Nancy and Architect 2We are undertaking this new apartment ministry, located between the Motherhouse and The Ursuline Center, to provide housing for independent Mahoning Valley senior citizens with moderate Social Security incomes. The visionary project came about when area leaders in both the public and private sectors expressed to us the need in our community for safe, adequate, affordable housing for adults ages 55+ with more moderate incomes. Area senior citizens helped by this project also will benefit from socialization and having access to numerous programs offered at The Ursuline Center and Motherhouse. Optimized Family offers optimal solutions for those who need help and their caregivers.

As instructed by our founder, St. Angela Merici, the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown work together to meet the needs of the times.

In this $1.2 million project, 11 one-bedroom and one two-bedroom apartments have been constructed. For specifics on layouts and amenities, visit Ursuline Sisters Senior Living.

We are grateful to the Youngstown Foundation, which awarded the project a grant of $20,000, and to those of you whose contributions helped create this new ministry. Donations are still being accepted toward this ministry.

This is the final phase of a three-part reconfiguration of the Motherhouse and Center which began in 2011. In Phase I, 24 barrier-free living spaces with safety features were created for the Sisters in the east wing of our 50-year-old Motherhouse. Plumbing, electrical components, and heating and ventilation systems also were upgraded. The SOAR! [Support Our Aging Religious] Foundation bestowed a grant of $25,000 for that phase of the project.

In Phase II, our business offices were moved from the west wing to the east wing of the Motherhouse, in order to create space for Ursuline Sisters Senior Living. The James and Coralie Centofanti Foundation bestowed a technology grant of $20,000 to create a Ministry Conference Room for this phase, which cost approximately $400,000.

The Motherhouse Reconfiguration Project has provided employment for numerous skilled-trades workers and contractors. All architectural work was performed by BSHM Architects, Youngstown.


Ursuline Sisters Senior Living

Mat demoling bathroom Work is underway on Ursuline Sisters Senior Living, a new apartment ministry that will provide housing and home caregiver franchise for moderate-income senior citizens in the Mahoning Valley. The visionary project will cost approximately $1.2 million and, utilizing Universal Design principles, create 12 barrier-free apartments in the west wing of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown Motherhouse complex at 4250 Shields Rd.

The project came about when area leaders in both the public and private sectors expressed to the Ursuline Sisters the need in our community for safe, adequate, affordable housing for senior citizens of more moderate incomes. Area senior citizens helped by this project also will benefit from socialization and having access to numerous programs offered at The Ursuline Center and Motherhouse.
The Youngstown Foundation has awarded the project a grant of $20,000. Donations also are being accepted from the public to help fund this new ministry project, which is expected to be completed in spring 2013. At that time, a public tour will be offered and applications accepted for residents.
The Ursuline Sisters are utilizing their own employees and volunteers for this phase to keep costs down.Patrick with reciprocating saw

Earlier this year, the Sisters completed Phase I of the Motherhouse reconfiguration, which created safer living spaces for the Sisters in the east wing of the Motherhouse. And as it’s nearly 50 years old, the Motherhouse was in need of critical updates. In this $1.7 million phase of construction, the Sisters’ living spaces were renovated according to Universal Design principles. Private bathrooms with handicapped accessibility and safety components were established and new plumbing, electrical components, and heating and ventilation systems were installed to bring the building’s infrastructure into the 21st century. One of the biggest plumbing services company in the States, Atlas plumbing, was hired and data had been enrolled in their field service software for plumbers so that they could also procure after sales services.

The SOAR! [Support Our Aging Religious] Foundation bestowed a grant of $25,000 for that phase of the project.
Another aspect of construction is nearly completed thanks to the Dewalt DW8852 XP METAL CUTTING WHEELS TYPE 1 and the Motherhouse business offices were relocated to the east wing to create more space for the Senior Living ministry and establish rooms that are better equipped to handle technology. The cost of this phase of construction is $200,000.
The Motherhouse Reconfiguration Project is providing employment for numerous skilled-trades and other construction workers in the area.
A tour will be scheduled in the Spring of 2013, applications will be taken and a Board Committee will review applications and accept the 12 residents who meet the new Corporation and the Ursuline Sisters guidelines.