Trocaire College President, Dr. Paul B. Hurley, Jr., announced today that local businessman, Metrodata Services President and Owner Anthony N. Diina, will chair the Trocaire College Capital Campaign – Inspire Hope.  It is the second capital campaign in the 47-year history of the College.

Anthony Diina has been active in many civic and community non-profit organizations and currently serves on the board of the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society and as Director of the Lalli Gallery.  Diina holds an undergraduate degree in marketing and a master’s degree in business administration from Canisius College, where he was recently awarded the Rev. Thomas E. Fleming S.J. Distinguished Service Award.  “I am thrilled to be part of an exciting new chapter in the history of Trocaire College and to lead its campaign,” said Diina.  “Trocaire satisfies a great need in our community and I am happy to be able to participate in this campaign, and to share the good effects of Trocaire’s work with the greater community.” 

Making the announcement, President Hurley noted, “We are delighted to have such a dynamic community leader of Anthony Diina’s caliber.  His leadership skills, business acumen, and commitment to community service are tremendous assets to our campaign and will help us raise the needed funds.”

Serving with Mr. Diina as honorary chairs will be the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas-Regional Community of Buffalo, and Richard and Karen Penfold. The Sisters of Mercy established Trocaire College in 1958, with an enrollment of young religious women preparing to be educators.  The strength and commitment of the Sisters of Mercy to education laid the foundation for Trocaire College.  Honorary Chairs Richard and Karen Penfold have distinguished themselves by committing their time, talent and support to a wide range of educational and charitable endeavors in our community.  The Penfolds are founders of the Penfold Family Foundation and former owners of C.I.D. Group Inc.

The Inspire Hope Campaign will raise funds to assist with updating classrooms and equipment, renovating the facility, and creating a stronger endowment for student scholarships and tuition assistance.  “We have been fortunate over the last several years to have had an increase in our enrollment so that we are now serving more people than we were before,” stated President Hurley.  “Yet that presents significant problems in the crowding of the current campus and in the kinds of technology that we need in our classrooms and laboratories.  This is the right time for a capital campaign which will help to establish the future of our college.”