Development
The Spirit of Giving
We would like to recognize recent generous donations from Western New York companies,
individuals, groups and organizations to Child & Family Services.
Holy Angels Academy
Here are the young women of the Volunteer Club at Holy Angels Academy. They raised
money, via a candy and bake sale, to buy gifts for a family in the Adopt-A-Family
program.
Citibank Supports Loan Program Since 1999
The Ways To Work Loan Program was presented with a second performance award of $3,500
on 9/7/07. The loan program continues to provide affordable loans to working families
as an alternative to predatory lending for those who do not qualify for conventional
credit.
We welcome Citizen's Bank to the list of collaborators, whose contributions have
made it possible for the program to provide more than 2 Million dollars in loans
since 1999. We recognize The Alliance for Children & Families, the Erie County
Department of Social Services, The McKnight Foundation, the New York State Department
of Labor, the New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance, the John
R. Oishei Foundation, Bank of America, Citizen's Bank, First Niagara Bank and Key
Bank for their funding. In particular, we wish to thank the United Way of Buffalo
& Erie County, HSBC and M&T Banks for their annual contributions that have made
it possible to sustain the program from year to year.
Kids and Companies Go Casual for a Cause
Each year, schools and businesses throughout the Western New York Community help
improve the lives of local women, children and families in need by participating
in the “Casual Days for Kids” program. The program is an easy and enjoyable way
for students and employees to give back to the community by raising funds for the
more than 41 programs provided by Child & Family Services.
Several area schools participated in the 2007 “Casual Days for Kids” program. The
students at Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School, Immaculata Academy and Mount St.
Mary Academy raised a combined total of more than $850. In addition, HSBC Retirement
Financial Services held an event each Friday throughout the month of February. During
this month-long program, employees donated an impressive $525. HSBC’s Matching Gift
program doubled the size of this contribution, for a total donation of $1,050. These
organizations raised a grand total of more than $1,900, making 2007’s program an
overwhelming success!
We extend a heartfelt thank-you to those who participated in 2007. Your generous
donations allow Child & Family Services to continue its mission of improving lives
and shaping bright futures through the programs we offer.
You can help too! We invite all area schools and businesses to participate in this
simple and rewarding program. As always, the funds raised stay right here to help
our neighbors in Western New York. For more information about this program or to
schedule your own event, please contact Ms. Rosanne Wisniewski at 882-0555, Ext.
314 or by email: rwisniewski@cfsbny.org.
West Herr Auto Group Supports Agency’s Holiday Efforts
Pictured here are: Lina Clark and Scott Bieler from West Herr; Susan Siwiec, Child
& Family Services; Ann Wesner, Stanley G. Falk School; and Bill Loecher and
Beth Hollis from West Herr.
Santa has taken many shapes and forms throughout time. For the children in the care
of Child & Family Services, Santa took form as New York’s largest auto dealer
group.
Last December, management and staff from West Herr Auto Group not only donated toys
and gifts for 100 children in our care, they hosted a holiday party for children
served by our Foster Care Programs. Child & Family Services was just one of
five organizations who received a donation last holiday season.
To thank the staff at West Herr for their generosity, Child & Family Services
presented them with a framed original artwork, painted by a student from our affiliate,
the Stanley G. Falk School.
Staff Fundraisers Benefit Child & Family Services Haven House
Pictured from left are: Stuart H. Angert, president, FiServ Automotive Solutions;
Katey Joyce, director of Child & Family Services Haven House; and Andrew Shaevel,
CEO of RSA Solutions.
We extend our thanks to the generous employees of FiServ Automotive Solutions and
RSA Solutions who recently donated $2,000 to Child & Family Services. The money
was raised through various staff fundraising activities and was designated to Child
& Family Services Haven House, which provides services to women and children
who are victims of domestic violence.
Bank Provides Brighter Holiday Two Years Running
Pictured from left are: Jacqueline Panaro, assistant vice president at Bank of America;
Ann Wesner, superintendent of the Stanley G. Falk Schools; Jose V. Balesca, banking
center manager at Bank of America, and Laura Weinstein, community relations manager
for Bank of America.
We extend our thanks to the staff and patrons of the Bank of America for their support
of our 2005 Adopt-a-Family Program. Donation boxes which benefited the Program and
the children in our care were displayed at many of the Bank of America locations
throughout Western New York. Hundreds of new toys were collected and distributed,
helping our agency provide a brighter holiday to season to 450 children in 131 families.
Representatives from Bank of America were on hand to accept a framed piece of original
artwork which was draw by a student from Child & Family Services’ affiliate,
the Stanley G. Falk School.
Blue Crew Recognizes Child & Family Services
Pictured from left are Susan Siwiec, chief development officer; a student from BlueCross
BlueShield’s adopted school (PS#89); Gene Meeks, president and CEO; and Franklin
Ball, Blue Crew Board Member.
Child & Family Services extends thanks to the Blue Crew at BlueCross BlueShield
for choosing our agency as a recipient of the group’s annual “Red Stocking” collection.
Child & Family Services was one of 15 local charities who received a wonderful
donation after being chosen by staff from the HMO.
BlueCross BlueShield employee volunteers work throughout the year on various projects
and events to raise money for thousands of Western New Yorkers in need. In addition
to monetary donations, they also contribute food, clothing, toiletries and other
basic necessities to many charitable organizations. The Blue Crew conduct events
including a Basket Auction, Bake Sales, Food and Clothing Drives, Christmas in July
Raffle and the Red Stocking Money Collection, with proceeds donated to different
charities throughout the area.
Child & Family Services Receives $92,840 Grant
The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York has awarded Child
& Family Services a $92,840 grant to help fund the new state-of-the-art Anasazi
Clinical Software Program.
The Anasazi Software Program was developed specifically for behavioral healthcare
and social service professionals, and will help Child & Family Services provide
the best care possible while addressing the need for reliable, secure, and up-to-date
client information in both electronic and paper form. The software will also effectively
manage all new HIPAA security requirements as well as provide tools to manage all
of the agency’s privacy concerns.
“This program will greatly enhance our operational systems which in turn, will improve
our ability to deliver treatment and services to the large number of low-income,
high-risk children and families we serve,” states Eugene Meeks, president and CEO
of Child & Family Services. “We are very pleased to be partnering with the Community
Health Foundation on this project.”
This is just one of several community agencies supported by a grant from the Community
Health Foundation of Western and Central New York. The Community Health Foundation
is a non-profit private foundation with a mission to improve the health and health
care of the people of Western and Central New York.
Buffalo Renaissance Foundation
Pictured from left to right are: Anthony Jordan, president, Buffalo Renaissance
Foundation; Eugene Meeks, president & CEO Child & Family Services; Vicki
Haas, executive director, Buffalo Renaissance Foundation; Edwin Bean, Jr., chairman,
Capital Campaign.
Child and Family Services was awarded $1,000 in grant funds from the Buffalo Renaissance
Foundation which will help to underwrite the costs associated with rebuilding the
fire escape at the Stanley G. Falk School's Carriage House located on their Delaware
Campus. The renovation is part of Child & Family's $6.51 million capital campaign,
which is their first in their 132 year history. The Buffalo Renaissance Foundation
has been at the forefront of change while pushing the concept and necessity of regionalism,
consolidation of services throughout Western New York and the revitalization of
our downtown. Their mission is to foster a better quality of life in Buffalo and
the Western New York region.
James H. Cummings Foundation
Pictured from left to right are: Gene Meeks, president and CEO of Child & Family
Services, Ruth Kahn Stovroff, co-chair of the foundation division of the capital
campaign cabinet, and William McFarland, executive director of the James H. Cummings
Foundation.
Child & Family Services extends thanks to the James H. Cummings Foundation,
who recently awarded our agency a grant totaling $103,551. The grant money, received
as part of our agency’s $6.51 million capital campaign, will be used to renovate
the kitchen and dining room of the Miller Hall residence at Child & Family Services
Conners Children’s Center. The center provides residential treatment services to
emotionally disturbed children ages 6-14.
Junior League of Buffalo
From left to right:
Front row: Adrienne Leibowitz and Marsha Gresens, representing Jr. League of Buffalo
Back row: Gene Meeks, Katey Joyce, Suzanne Gannon, Charles Kreiner, Jr., representing
Child & Family Services.
The Junior League of Buffalo and the Buffalo News have awarded the 2003 Decorators’
Show House proceeds to Child & Family Services Haven House. The $460,000 grant
will be used to build the non-residential wing of the new Haven House campus. This
is the largest grant ever awarded by the Junior League of Buffalo and the Buffalo
News Decorator Show House.
“The Junior League of Buffalo is committed to improving the lives of women and children
who are victims of domestic violence,” said Britt Bird Weir, president of the Junior
League of Buffalo.
The grant will build the non-residential wing that will provide supportive services
to women and children who are in the shelter and to those in need in the community.
These services include: counseling; legal advocacy; safety planning; 24-hour hotline
assistance; parenting education and crisis intervention. Additionally, Child &
Family Services Haven House will be the first in the Nation to partner with a YWCA
to provide transitional housing in six apartments all on one campus.
“Words can’t express our elation over the receipt of these grant funds,” said Gene
Meeks, president and CEO. “All the pieces are now in place as the dream of a new
Haven House becomes reality.”
For 25 years, Child & Family Services Haven House has provided safe, confidential
services for families-at-risk, while providing women and children with the resources
needed to rebuild their lives. The Haven House shelter was one of the first in the
Nation, and has been at the forefront of the domestic violence movement in this
country. Since the shelter was founded, they have helped over 100,000 women and
children.
Katey Joyce, director of Child & Family Services Haven House stated that “we
are thrilled to revitalize our 25 year partnership with the Junior League of Buffalo,
and are in awe of their continued investment with our program.”
The Junior League of Buffalo is an organization of women committed to promoting
voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and to improving communities through
the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively
educational and charitable. The Junior League of Buffalo has been serving the Western
New York community since 1919.