Francis House is pleased to announce the appointment of its new board leadership, who will continue to lead their ministry in providing a home and extended family to people with terminal illnesses.
Effective July 1st, the following individuals will assume their new leadership roles on the Francis House Board of Directors:
Dan Gardner succeeds Alicia Calagiovanni as the Board Chair. Gardner is a graduate of Canton ATC & Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and is the Co-Founder of Rich & Gardner Construction Company. He currently serves as a senior advisor.
Gardner has an extensive background in board service in the Central New York Community, including leadership roles he currently holds at The First Tee of CNY and the Seven Pines Homeowner Association. He is honored and excited to assume the role as Board Chair of Francis House.
“Francis House is truly a special place,” says Gardner, “Since Sister Kathleen Osbelt founded Francis House in 1991, every resident has been treated with love, kindness, and dignity. The Board’s role moving forward is to continue the mission Sister Kathleen started and support the community with end-of-life care and education.”
Steve Kulick will serve as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. A native and current resident of Syracuse, Kulick is actively engaged in a number of local environmental, arts, and community-based organizations, in addition to Francis House. He both enjoys and continuously searches for new opportunities to experience the outstanding natural beauty of Central New York in all seasons. Steve works at Le Moyne College where he leads the College’s grant writing and government relations efforts. He holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Syracuse University.
“I look forward to working with staff and volunteers alike to help shape and strengthen the Francis House of the future so that it can continue to support those at the end of life with unconditional love.”
Dan Stanistreet assumes the role of Board Secretary. Stanistreet grew up on the West Side of Syracuse and currently resides in Camillus. He sat on the Camillus Town Board and founded Distributor Wholesale Specialists, Ltd. and Dublin Development. Stanistreet’s background in facilities management, fundraising, and community building are assets to many of the organizations he volunteers for.
Francis House, now in its 34th year of service to the Central New York Community, provides a home and a supportive extended family to people with terminal illnesses; those with a prognosis of three months or less to live. Its family of caregivers, staff, and volunteers surround each resident with unconditional love, guided by core values of compassion, acceptance, respect, and dignity. Francis House welcomes all residents regardless of faith, ethnicity, or ability to pay for their care.