A FABULOUS ‘FATHER BAKER’S BOY’ LEAVES GIFTS FOR FLCC, THOMPSON Excerpt from an article by Jessica Youngman, FLCC public relations and events specialist. To see the full story, visit FLCCconnects.com. ALUMNI: RECONNECT, GET INVOLVED, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE Eugene McKenney was born in 1927, and for reasons unknown, given up to the care of an orphanage near Buffalo. The era saw a boom in children born out of wedlock or to mothers too young to care for them, or especially in the Depression that soon followed, to families unable to feed and clothe one more. His home was Father Baker’s Orphanage. Its namesake, Roman Catholic priest Nelson Baker, treated those in his care as his own – they were often called “Father Baker’s boys.” And, he kept an empty crib by the door so mothers could leave their babies in the night, no questions asked. McKenney was never adopted. Few were. His second home was the Newark State School, a collection of brick buildings that housed, among others, those too old for orphanages but too young to be sent into the world. When he turned 18 and was old enough to make a go of it on his own, McKenney made his way to Canandaigua. The city nicknamed “The Chosen Spot” wrapped its arms around him and stayed in his heart, even as he moved on to a prosperous career in California. McKenney died Feb. 15 at age 86. With no family – he’d never married or had children — he left bequests to institutions he valued, including two cornerstones of Canandaigua: Finger Lakes Community College and F.F. Thompson Hospital. Each received $25,000 from McKenney’s estate. “We are so grateful for his generosity,” said FLCC President Barbara Risser. “What makes this especially remarkable is that he was never a student here, but still he recognized the importance of this institution in providing quality, affordable education, especially for those from little financial means.” Ed and Ann Hanley of Naples recently delivered the checks. They visited Amy Pauley, executive director of the FLCC Foundation, which supports the College with funding for capital projects, equipment, scholarships and professional development. McKenney’s bequest will be used to fund scholarships. The Hanleys, who enjoyed a longtime friendship with McKenney, explained how he came to know of the college through another friend, Collins “Connie” Carpenter. Carpenter was an oral surgeon who served on the FLCC Board of Trustees in its formative years, from 1966 to ’78. As chair of the trustees, he advocated for the development of the then Community College of the Finger Lakes and played a major role in its move from city storefronts to a permanent campus on Lincoln Hill. A couple years before Carpenter’s death in 2008, he learned that McKenney had made a donation to the College in his honor as it dedicated the new Carpenter Board Room, where, fittingly, the Board of Trustees convenes. “You have honored me far more than you could ever believe,” wrote Carpenter in a March 2006 letter to McKenney. “Just knowing you all of these years has been one of the treasured highlights of my life. By making this gift to the community college, you are giving some student an opportunity that you never had yourself. What a wonderful, unselfish thing to do.” There are many opportunities to share some of the skills you gained while attending FLCC to help current students and join the FLCC alumni community, now more than 24,000 strong. Visit http://www.flcc.edu/offices/alumni/volunteer.cfm and learn how to help current students by participating in a mentorship program, offering assistance with internship opportunities, providing help in making career decisions and securing employment, and/or offering information about the college to prospective students. Would you like to help organize events for alumni or get involved with CCFL/FLCC 50th Anniversary events planning? Or would you like to share the story of your journey following your graduation from FLCC? Contact alumni@flcc.edu or call 585-785-1454, and we will share opportunities as they arise. Getting the President’s Scholarship is something I take pride in. It shows that my hard work throughout my high school career is noticed by the College, and they care about keeping their students who work hard on the same path with financial help as a push. — Jared Hanslmaier 2014 FLCC President’s Scholarship recipient 6 FINGER LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALUMNI <strong>AMBASSADOR</strong> | www.flcc.edu/alumni 7