W.C.A. Foundation Inc. honored Mary Taylor at its annual meeting as she completed her tenure on the board of directors.

Taylor was the president of the foundation’s founding board of directors and served as a board member of the foundation for 32 years, holding leadership positions over that time span.

In addition to the foundation, Taylor was also a longtime board member at WCA Hospital, serving more than 40 years in support of the community’s award-winning health care facility. Her service was applauded by the W.C.A. Foundation board of directors and Chairman Steven D. Kilburn, on behalf of the WCA Hospital board of directors, for her service and its legacy.

Financial reports recorded the foundation’s assets at $13,882,470 at mid-year after giving away more than $5 million in grants to WCA Hospital and Starflight over the course of its 32-year history. Other donor gifts have also been received and transferred directly to WCA Hospital for the specific purposes identified by the giver.

“The WCA Foundation’s endowment is continuing to increase through the community’s donations and prudent investments. The region is fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers who offer their time and knowledge to support the foundation and hence the future of WCA Hospital and health care here,” said Brigetta Overcash, executive director.

New board members welcomed to the WCA Foundation board of directors by Dr. Brian Meagher, vicechair, were Phillip Cala, Wendy Kane, Laura Otander, Melissa Uber and Dr. Robert Ungerer. The new members were chosen for their variety of business expertise which will help the board fulfill the foundation’s mission to support and foster the health care initiatives of WCA Hospital.

PHILLIP CALA

Philip Cala, sole proprietor of the Philip A. Cala, Law Office received his B.A. in psychology and English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his Juris Doctorate degree from Ohio Northern University. Professionally, Cala is a member of the New York state and Jamestown Bar Associations, having been president of the latter. He is a member of the Southern Tier Legal services, a 12-year former director of Legal Services of Western New York and NYS court programs for his pro bono legal services to the poor.

Cala’s civic involvements include many years of community service being an officer or director of Chautauqua County Chapter of American Red Cross, the James Prendergast Library Association, the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Chautauqua Striders Inc., Rotary Club of Jamestown, Reg Lenna Civic Center and The Salvation Army. He has served as pro bono counsel and incorporator for the Chautauqua Striders Inc., the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Infinity Performing Arts Program Inc. and C.O.D.E.

Married to the former Nancy Yates, Cala is father of Erin, Philip, Alexander, Rachael and Peter.

WCA has a long history as a “cornerstone” agency in Jamestown and Chautauqua County, according to Cala. He is looking forward to advancing WCA’s mission through service on the foundation board.

WENDY KANE

Wendy Kane believes a gift to WCA Foundation is essentially a gift to ourselves, as members of this community.

Wife of James “Jake” Kane, the former elementary school teacher is an active volunteer at the Southwestern schools attended by her three children Max, Spencer and Elizabeth. In addition to Kane’s board position with the WCA Foundation, she is the president of the Lakewood Memorial Library Board and a member and formerly on the board of The Creche Inc. Her earlier volunteer activities include the Make-A-Wish of Western Pennsylvania and hosting children from the Fresh Air Fund.

LAURA OTANDER

New board member Laura Otander and her husband Randy live in Ashville. She began her business career with a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Buffalo. Her previous employment includes Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co.-employee benefits specialist, Warren General Hospital-personnel manager and North AmeriCare-director of sales. Otander was the former founder, president and owner of Veracity Benefits an employee benefits firm. She now is a sales consultant to start-up companies.

Otander commented that during her entire business career she has worked, in one capacity or another, in the healthcare industry. She has had the pleasure of working with WCA Hospital during her tenure with North AmeriCare and Veracity Benefits. She said she was honored to be asked to be part of the W.C.A. Foundation in hopes of giving back to this organization and assisting in keeping the hospital strong and part of the community.

MELISSA UBER

Melissa Uber is a partner in the family business, Quick Solutions, and a licensed real estate agent with Century 21 Turner Brokers. In addition to being a member of the board of directors of WCA Foundation, she has been an active volunteer with many organizations for more than 30 years and, is currently active with the Chautauqua Institution Fund and co-chairman of the 2014 United Way communitywide fundraising campaign with her son Shane Uber, Esq.

Rounding out the Uber family are Sean and Tyler, sons of Uber and her late husband, Bob.

Uber believes in the need to support WCA Hospital to keep it strong and keep it local. Her family has created the Eaglesome Family Fund at the WCA Foundation to increase educations and diagnostics for autoimmune diseases here in Chautauqua County.

ROBERT UNGERER, M.D.

Dr. Robert Ungerer is on the Emeritus medical staff of the WCA Hospital from which he retired after 31 years of service as an orthopedic surgeon. He is a physician “coach” for medical records department at WCA and currently performs independent medical exams four days per month.

Ungerer has been a Sunday school teacher for 12 years at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. For the last eight years he has been the co-chairman of the Jamestown Audubon Society Enchanted Forest program. Ungerer is an Eagle Scout and on the board of directors of the local council of the Boy Scouts of America where he recently conducted a bird study course enabling three scouts to earn bird study merit badges. His other hobbies include bird watching, cross country skiing and exercising five days a week. Ungerer also writes a bimonthly article for The Post-Journal appearing in the Saturday Magazine concerning science and nature.

Ungerer is grateful to be able to serve the WCA Hospital through the board of directors of WCA Foundation because its mission is to support the hospital.

“Since I worked at the hospital for 31 years as a physician and personally experienced major surgery as well as having my four daughters born there with my wife, Beverly, I know Jamestown is fortunate to have a hospital that provides quality care,” said Ungerer. “WCA Hospital has highly trained staff including nurses, physicians, therapists, laboratory staff, radiology and emergency room staff. By serving I hope to promote and make known the importance of continuing the quality care and exceptional reputation that WCA Hospital has established.”

WCA Foundation Inc. has served as an independent repository of permanently endowed and pass-through tax-exempt contributions to support the health care initiatives of WCA Hospital for 32 years. To learn more about the foundation and how to help support it, contact Brigetta Overcash, executive director, at 664-8600; P.O. Box 840, Jamestown, NY 14702-0840.