A new scholarship fund established through the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will honor the life and legacy of Denise Renaud by helping local students pursue careers in dentistry and health care.

The Denise Renaud Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Renaud, a lifelong Olean-area resident who dedicated three decades of her professional life to caring for patients as a dental hygienist.

Renaud, who passed away September 1, 2025, was born and raised in Olean. She graduated from Archbishop Walsh High School and earned her dental hygienist degree from Monroe Community College. After beginning her career in Pittsburgh, she returned to Olean in the 1990s and spend the next 30 years working for Barkley B. Daugherty Jr., DDS.

Renaud is remembered as a happy, compassionate person who loved the Olean community. She was deeply devoted to her family, passionately supported her children in their sports and aspirations and taught them the importance of kindness and generosity.

The scholarship will carry those values forward by helping students enter fields dedicated to caring for others.

Annual scholarship awards will be available to graduating seniors from Olean, Allegany, Hinsdale and Portville schools who plan to pursue further education in the dental field, which is the scholarship’s first preference.

If there are no eligible applicants from those schools pursuing a dental-related field, second preference will be given to students continuing their education in health care-related fields of study.

“Scholarships like this create a lasting investment in the future of our community,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “By supporting students pursuing careers in dentistry and health care, this fund will help local students achieve their educational goals while strengthening the health care workforce in our region.”

The scholarship fund will receive support from the first annual Denise Renaud Scholarship & Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Golf Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Birch Run Golf Course in Allegany.

The tournament will feature a 10 a.m. shotgun start, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The event will be a two-person scramble, with a cost of $120 per golfer, including food at the turn and dinner. Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams, along with contests including closes to the pin and longest drives for men and women.

The Renaud family is still seeking sponsors and prize donations for the inaugural tournament. Sponsorship opportunities include:

• Gold Sponsor - $500: Premier recognition at the event, business logo on tournament materials and signage, social media and event promotion, and a complimentary hole sponsorship.
• Silver Sponsor - $300: Event recognition, business name on select tournament signage and social media and event promotion.
• Bronze Sponsor - $200: Business name displayed at the event and recognition in the tournament program and promotional materials.
• Hole Sponsor - $100: Personalized sign displayed at one golf hole during the tournament.
• Contest Sponsors - $50: Closest to the pin and long drives.

Prize donations and basket raffle contributions are also welcomed.

The tournament committee and Renaud family extend their sincere thanks to the businesses, organizations and individuals who have already stepped forward to support the event. Their early generosity is helping establish what the family hopes will become a lasting tradition in Denise’s memory while creating opportunities for local students.

For sponsorship information, prize donations or questions about the golf tournament, contact Dave Renaud at 716-307-8943 or [email protected].

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).