University at Buffalo School of Management

In exchange, Prosperity Fellows commit to working in Western New York for at least two of the 10 years fol- lowing their graduation, thereby giving back economi- cally to the region they have pledged to support. Bryant H. Prentice III, president of the Prentice Family Foundation and chairman of the board of Bryant & Stratton College, says the foundation was inspired by Buffalo's renaissance to create the program and focus on job creation with a multiplier effect. "This is about long-term impact," he says. "We're betting on these fellows becoming influential in their companies and having an influence on location of plants and facilities, resulting in thousands of WNY jobs in a decade or two from now." Brian Bowman, PharmD/MBA '16, pharmacist at Gerould's Professional Pharmacy Inc. and vice president at Serving In God's Name (SIGN) Inc., is one of those in- fluential WNY Prosperity alumni. In his role at SIGN, Bowman leads medical missions to Haiti and brings team members from WNY, ultimately benefiting both regions. "Everyone who goes has a broader perspective on seeing people's needs and having a heart to serve others," he says. "Many members return to WNY to volunteer lo- cally and get others involved in using medicine to serve beyond their normal careers." Jill Clark, MBA '10, was in the first cohort of students to receive the scholarship. She says the program light- ened her financial burden, allowing her and her hus- band to buy their first home and set roots down in WNY. "Receiving the scholarship took a huge financial weight off my shoulders, which allowed me to focus on Spring 2019 Buffalo Business 25 my studies and hit the ground running when starting my career," she says. That career has led her to her current role as marketing project manager at the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., which oversees development, pro- gramming and operations at Buffalo's waterfront. "For the past six years I've had the honor of work- ing at a corporation that has had a direct impact on the re- birth of Buffalo and Western New York," Clark says. "As a native Buffalonian, I am bursting with pride at the growth this area has seen and what is to come in the future." Thanks to the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship program, UB's best and brightest are equipped to make that future a prosperous one. x — Kevin Manne " Being a Prosperity Scholar plants a seed in your mind that you're going to help the community. The incredible support of this scholarship inspired me to give back to the community exponentially." Ryan Carr, BS '12, MBA '14 Founder and CEO Rycar Media " Everyone who goes [on a mission trip] has a broader perspective on seeing people's needs and having a heart to serve others. Many members return to WNY to volunteer locally." Brian Bowman, PharmD/MBA '16 Pharmacist Gerould's Professional Pharmacy Inc.

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