Olean, NY – Olean General Hospital (OGH), a member hospital campus of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), was awarded a $2,000 grant from the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation and Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The grant was awarded in October and will be utilized for various patient resources throughout the hospital campus.

            “The Renodin Foundation is pleased to support Olean General Hospital with funds to help those who are experiencing poverty and other challenging situations that come through the hospital’s doors, as well as providing religious articles to sustain patients’ spiritual well-being,” said Laura Whitford, president, Renodin Foundation. “The Foundation’s history with the hospital goes back to the days of St. Francis Hospital, and we’re happy to continue the mission and charism of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany into today.”

A portion of the grant will be distributed to the pastoral care department at OGH which will be instrumental in purchasing new Bibles, rosaries, Living Faith devotional booklets, Communion wafers, and other items. The majority of the funds will be used to help critical care and inpatients experiencing financial challenges upon discharge. The grant will allocate money to provide resources such as transportation for poverty-stricken individuals. 

“We’re very appreciative to be awarded this gift from the Renodin Foundation and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The grant is a great resource to help improve our patient’s experience here at OGH,” added Steve Jackson, president of, OGH Foundation. “It’s important that we’re not only providing services within the four walls of our hospital campus but, continuing to provide resources and care to community members after they leave our facility.”

            The pastoral care department at OGH visits inpatients Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is also available on call 24 hours a day. Chaplains provide spiritual, emotional, and psychosocial needs of patients and their families in times of illness, conflict, and tragedy.