Buffalo, NY, June 21, 2005 - - - - - The Hauptman-Woodward Medical
Research Institute (HWI) received a $20,000 grant from First Niagara
Bank Foundation to support the Cures Begin Here Capital Campaign. This
funding will be used to support educational programming at the Institute
including the recruitment of graduate students and our summer internship
program.
Herbert A. Hauptman, HWI President and Nobel Laureate stated, "Not
only is it important to support the basic science that occurs at HWI,
but also the educational programs that help us create the next generation
of scientists. First Niagara shares our commitment to education and
we cannot thank them enough for this generous contribution"
Established in 1998, the First Niagara Bank Foundation continues a
legacy of giving. It awards grants to non-profit organizations in four
primary areas including education, art and culture, health and human
services and community reinvestment. To date, the foundation has awarded
$2.9 million in grants to 135 non-profit organizations. In addition
to awarding grants from its foundation, First Niagara contributes leadership,
time, talent and treasure to community-minded agencies through corporate
donations, sponsorships and volunteerism.
First Niagara Bank is a subsidiary of First Niagara Financial Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq: FNFG). It is a full service, community-oriented bank
that provides financial services to individuals, families, and businesses
through 116 banking centers, a loan production office, several financial
services subsidiaries, and 154 ATMs across New York State. For more
information about First Niagara, visit www.fnfg.com.
Founded in 1956, HWI is an independent, non-profit facility specializing
in the area of basic research known as structural biology. Our mission
is two-fold; committing ourselves to improving human health by studying
the causes of diseases at their basic molecular level and working to
educate the scientists of tomorrow. Our president and namesake, Dr.
Herbert A. Hauptman, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1985
for his development of the formula known as “direct methods”,
where his application of classical mathematics finally resolved an
issue that had defeated generations of chemists. For more information
visit HWI's web site at www.hwi.buffalo.edu