Mercy College Annual Report 2009

School of Health And Natural Sciences Serves as a LivableVillage Community, Hosts CarFit EventPhoto credit: Christine TokashOccupational Therapy program’s student andfaculty team hosted CarFit at Dobbs FerrycampusYonkers School 22children are readThe Cat in the HatThe Mercy College School of Health and Natural Sciences became a ‘Village’ forthe Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services LivableCommunities Program. A Westchester county initiative,Livable Communities’ mission is to develop programsto enable people to remain in their homes as they growolder with dignity and independence and enjoy a betterquality of life.As a Livable Community Village, the School of Healthand Natural Sciences joins 27 county ‘villages’ formed todate. Livable Community Villages are groups of peoplewith shared interests such as civic and service clubs,neighborhood associations, and educational institutions.As a village, the school contributes educational healthand wellness programs, such as the discussion group runat the Dobbs Ferry Senior Center by CommunicationDisorders faculty and students and the CarFit educationalevents offered throughout the county by Occupational Therapy faculty and students.As part of its commitment as a Livable Community Village, in October Mercy Collegehosted a CarFit community event. Developed by the American Society on Aging,American Automobile Association (AAA), American Association of Retired Persons(AARP) and the American Occupational Therapy Association, CarFit is the first freeprogram to offer older adults the opportunity to formally review how their cars meettheir individual needs and receive personalized information to enhance their safety.Mercy College WelcomesThe Class Of 2023Mercy College’s School of Education hosted 60children from two Yonkers elementary schools,School 23 and School 22. These children, the class of2023, received a piggy bank and 23 pennies to starttheir college savings, were read The Cat in the Hatin the new Library Learning Commons and had funactivities in the gymnasium with Coach Steve Manitta.Assistant Professor Pat Feaster, EdD, organized theevent with the aim of putting college into the mindsof children at an early age, and to encourage theirparents to foster this interest.Mercy College Receives $3.5 Million New York StateHECAP GrantMercy College has been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the Board of the NewYork State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap) to supportrenovations to the college’s main campus in Dobbs Ferry. The funding supportsrenovations that are vital to the College’s continuing efforts to improve and enhanceservices to students, as well as provide additional space for expanded academicprograms. HECap provides a $1 match for every $3 raised for capital investment atNew York’s independent (private not-for-profit) institutions of higher education.Funds are distributed according to a formula that considers such factors as overallstudent enrollment, student body financial need and size of existing and plannedcampus facilities.20 • Mercy College Annual Report 2009