Incredible things are possible when we work together.

What difference is my support making? Who is it helping?

This is a fair question for any of our supporters to ask. In this section, we will share our stories with you while maintaining complete confidentiality. We will keep you updated on the activities in our various programs, including success stories of those whom we have helped, special events in which our programs participate, and any commendations that our staff receives.

Plaque Unveiled for Rebuilding with Rachael Fund

"I hope [people] remember Rachael and the light she brought, and that nobody should be able to take that light from anybody else," said Mark Wierzbicki. November 27, 2023 marks the five-year anniversary of the day Rachael Wierzbicki’s life was cut short due to domestic violence. Her parents, Lauri and Mark, started the Rachael Warrior…
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Aspiring Eagle Scout Donates 40 Blankets to Residential Program

“I was passionate about keeping this project local,” stated Alison Whitton, Eagle Scout Applicant and Founding Member of Troop 261G. “It was important to me to create an impact that sparked joy and made someone feel better about their hard situation or themselves.” To achieve Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Scouts, Alison needed…
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Lucy Tschachtli Awarded 2023 Transforming Trauma Award

“When we use the creative side of our brain, we access many different skills we use in our lives, including self-reflection, analytical thinking and problem solving. These are all tools that a domestic violence survivor will need to utilize on their journey,” said Lucy Tschachtli, Domestic Violence Counselor at Haven House’s Counseling and Advocacy Program.…
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Fashion Show with a Twist 2023

For the first time in the event’s history, Fashion Show with a Twist was completely sold out, with over 300 people attending for a night of shopping, dinner and fashion! Child and Family Services’ (C+FS) employees, board members and volunteers rocked the runway with their own unique styles, all to raise money for Haven House,…
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Falk-Mullen Welcomes Students for the First Time

The Stanley G. Falk (Falk) students recently celebrated their first week back to school and, for many, it was their first week in a new building! On Wednesday, September 6, the Falk-Mullen campus officially opened its doors for the first time to welcome 85 elementary students. One-by-one, students filed in and were greeted by a…
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Winter and Rodger Find Forever Family

Since hearing that she and her brother, Rodger, were going to be adopted, four-year-old Winter told everyone that she came across about their upcoming big day. Whether she was in a restaurant, at a playground, or in a store, Winter exclaimed, "My name is going to be Winter Schimenti after I get adopted soon!" Alison…
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Residential Kids Thrilled with New Bedrooms

Child and Family Services is excited to share that the renovations for one of their residential facilities are complete! Six kids in Residential Treatment were able to move into their new bedrooms on Monday, July 17.  The agency’s facilities team paved the way for a three-year renovation project having been responsible for design layout, demolition,…
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Heartlight at the Harbor – 2023

BUFFALO, NY: Child and Family Services raised $100,015 at the Heartlight at the Harbor concert. Held at Outer Harbor’s Lakeside Lawn, the event featured a concert headlined by Nerds Gone Wild and was attended by more than 300 individuals. Funds raised will benefit the essential resources and programs that Child and Family Services provides to…
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Child and Family Services Partners with International Institute of Buffalo

(BUFFALO, New York)—The International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) and Child and Family Services (C+FS) will partner to continue a pilot Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking program for our region that started in early 2022 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The program is also partially funded by Erie County’s Safe Harbor…
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Small Business Owner Gives to Haven House

"I just recently had a fortune cookie that read 'If you continually give, you will continually have,' and I thought that was so beautiful," said Michelina with a huge smile on her face. The Buffalo native and small business owner used this opportunity to reflect on the last few years, which had been especially challenging for…
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Three New Members Join C+FS Board of Directors

Child and Family Services (C+FS) is excited to welcome Lizarelis Ali, Ellen Burkhardt and Neil Pawlowski to the Agency’s Board of Directors. They join 19 other individuals from various backgrounds including legal, insurance, not-for-profit management, health care, finance, education, compliance, real estate, architecture and more. Our new members join the Board of Directors during a…
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Volunteers Attend First In-Person Party at Residential Since Pre-Pandemic

Roemello White, Interim Operations Manager at Child & Family Services, walked through the gymnasium during the Residential Treatment Program’s recent party thrown by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). In one corner, he saw an IIDA volunteer help Addison* build a tower out of LEGO that was nearly as tall as the child himself. Roemello…
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