Funding Collaborative Endows Scholarships

September 25, 2007 – Officials of The Charles Finney School announced that it has been awarded $100,000 to endow a needs-based scholarship program that will provide tuition assistance to income-eligible 8th and 9th grade level students who reside within the city of Rochester. M & T Bank and Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, a Rochester-based law firm, collaboratively agreed to provide the school with a total of $80,000, payable at $10,000 per year over four years. An additional $20,000 was given by two anonymous donors. Daniel J. Burns, M & T regional president of the Rochester Division and James P. McElheny, managing partner of Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP joined Finney Volunteer Board Chairman Norman Leenhouts in making the announcement at a press conference held today at the school. “These scholarships will expand the educational opportunities for children living in the city of Rochester,” said Burns. “M & T believes investing in education always produces positive long-term benefits for the community,” The scholarship, officially named the Finney/Rochester Enrichment Scholarship, is aimed at specifically providing long-term tuition assistance to qualifying students beginning at the 8th and 9th grade levels who reside in the city, which will allow them to graduate from Finney. “Continuing the support in the Rochester community, in all aspects, including education is important to Woods Oviatt Gilman,” remarked McElheny. Four students were introduced at the press conference as scholarship recipients. All will receive tuition assistance in the amount of $1,000 per year over four years. In all, up to 20 students will benefit from the scholarship