Connected to community

High-school sweethearts, Robert and Nina Doran both attended UB's School of Pharmacy, where Robert ran more than 12 chemistry labs to pay tuition. "The teachers prepared me to do what I wanted to do. The whole experience was a life lesson in taking care of people who aren’t equipped to take care of themselves. That's what it was all about—helping," says Robert.

The Dorans married in their third year of the program. After they graduated, they eventually started a business in Depew, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo. They named the place Town & Country and began building their dream. With 12 other independent pharmacies in the neighborhood, the competition was stiff. Still, the Dorans built a prosperous enterprise, offering a unique mix of pharmacy services and gifts. Nina worked side-by-side with Robert until the first of their four children came along.

Robert liked working with his customers more than anything else. "I felt I could help them. They'd come to me with problems. People trusted me, not just for not making mistakes, but for trying to help them."

The Dorans' feelings about their time at UB strongly influenced their decision to commit funds to the pharmacy school. In addition, three of their children attended UB. "Because of what UB did for us, we were able to accomplish what we did," says Robert. The Dorans set up a charitable trust, deciding that was "best for us and for UB."