ALLEGANY, N.Y. — The St. Bonaventure University community awarded the Province’s Francis Medal on April 20 to Susan Anders, a professor of accounting at SBU.
Twenty-five students as well as faculty members attended a luncheon held at the nearby Clubhouse restaurant.
Anders initiated and oversees the SBU VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. While the focus of the assistance has been local, the group has also provided assistance in Houston, Texas, as well as for others with special requests.
This is the fifth year that Anders mobilized SBU students to assist qualified poor in completing their tax returns, according to a recent letter sent by David Blake, OFM, and F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, to Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM.
This year alone, more than 2,000 volunteer hours have been given to generating more than 300 tax returns that will result in over $500,000 in tax refund this year. The program provides a valuable service to the Allegany /Olean community and prepares accounting graduates to continue service to the poor in the future.
The letter said that these efforts reflect Franciscan values which have provided the vision and foundation for the program.
The Francis Medal was established in 1998 by then provincial minster John Felice, OFM.
The photo shows Anders with two students who accumulated the most in returns.