wny
Investing in
Women & Girls
Promoting nothing less than significant transformation in the lives of women and girls
Our Grant Programs
Support Asset Building Conference
In response to issues identified by women in the Needs Assessment Surveys funded
by the WNYWF, the Fund accelerated its support and sponsorship of a conference
to explore strategies for helping low-income women and families acquire the assets
needed to achieve self-sufficiency. The sold out conference: Understanding Asset
Building: Strategies for Working Families and Individuals, was planned and
hosted by CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)* on September 18 and 19, 2007.
The conference featured national and local experts sharing programs that have been
successfully employed in other communities.
Financial asset building is a relatively new approach to helping families achieve
economic security. Drawing on a variety of innovative strategies, the goal of financial
asset building is to increase opportunities to start a business, own a home or pursue
further education. Many experts view asset building as a “Promising Practice” and
the approach has proven effective in reducing the long-term impact of poverty in
many localities.
The first day was primarily for
policy makers, non-profit executive
directors, financial institutions, and
funders who attended several targeted
sessions. The WNY Women’s Fund
hosted a special dinner for key decision
makers at which Ray Boshara,
Vice President and Director of
the Asset Building Program at
the New America Foundation,
provided an outstanding explanation
of the role played by asset acquisition
in conquering poverty. More than
130 people attended the second
day of the conference. Numerous workshops featured programs by experts such as
Inger Guiffrida, Director of The Asset Alliance, Anne Yeoman from Assets for
Independence, and Ron Deutsch from MicroBiz New York, explaining the details
of financial literacy programs, individual development accounts (IDAs) and related
programs. An inspiring luncheon address by Lauren Breen, Esq. of SUNY/Buffalo
School of Law and Chair of CASH was also well attended.
This conference provided insight and excitement within the WNY
Community around asset building. CASH is actively pursuing follow-up projects
and is beginning to pilot several financial asset building strategies. The WNYWF is
closely monitoring these initiatives and looks forward to funding further
programs that show promise for helping women acquire key assets for
self-sufficiency.
* CASH is a coalition of 60 area organizations and agencies, ably led by Diane Bessel, Ph.D. and is
an initiative of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County.
News Bulletin
Winter/Spring 2008
Upcoming Events
Please contact our office 887-2621 for
ticket information or to make a gift.
19th Annual
ATHENA Award Ceremony
The ATHENA Award is dedicated to
promoting and honoring the valuable
contributions being made to advance
the status of women.
Please join us on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency.
Nomination forms are available
on our website.
Understanding Hockey Basics –
A night out for Women and Girls
Please join us on Thursday, March 6, 2008
from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
at the Harbour Club.
Make a special gift in honor of
a mother on Mother’s Day
For a donation of $5,000 in support
of our endowment campaign,
you will have the opportunity to feature
a special woman in a section of the
Buffalo News honoring women who
have impacted our lives.
If you would like to receive our newsletter
electronically please send an email to
[email protected].
WNY Women’s Fund
742 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
Phone: 716.887.2621
Fax: 716.887.2770
wnywomensfund.org
“FUN”raising Events
Q:What do Marv Levy and
Steve Tasker say to a bunch of
women who show up at the
Buffalo Bills’ Fieldhouse?
A:GAME ON! Please.
Women of all ages from Western New York arrived at One Buffalo Bills Drive on
Monday, September 17th to practice running drills, kick field goals, learn about
athletic conditioning and play calling and, most importantly, to support the
Western New York Women’s Fund and our mission to invest in new and
innovative solutions to provide life-changing results for women and girls.
The event was sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of WNY and raised
more than $11,000 to assist the Western New York Women’s Fund as it tackles
issues of special importance to women and girls in our community.
More than 100 women of all ages were treated to a welcome reception, a
general lecture about football, a question-and-answer session with Bills’ General
Manager Marv Levy, and six interactive stations including: special teams, offensive
and defensive line, agility, athletic training, strength & conditioning/nutrition, and
equipment demonstration. Bills players and alumni on hand included: Al Bemiller,
Mark Brammer, Wray Carlton, Hilton Crawford, Bob Dugan, Charley Ferguson,
Marlon Kerner, Adam Lingner, Marshawn Lynch, Marlo Perry, Lou Piccone and
Ernie Warlick.
Following this crash course in football, the women had the opportunity to
recover as they dined on the turf with the alumni and players. Raffle items were
provided courtesy of Peter F. Hunt and Hunt Real Estate Corp., Delaware
North Companies, Inc., Sue Gardner, Lisa Pierce and the Buffalo Bills.
On November 9th, the Annual
Fall in Fashion “sell-out” lunch
took place at the Buffalo Club. Fall
in Fashion raised over $24,000
for summer program scholarships
for Middle and High School girls.
Over 200 women came together
to support the Women’s Fund in
a Chinese auction. Fashions from
around the
globe were on
display from
Hermes and Dior
to a beautiful
diamond
and sapphire
cocktail ring
from Diamond Cutters. The event
was chaired by Shine Hassanali,
Andrea Kuettel, and Lisa Pierce
who worked magic.
The goal is to provide
funding for girls who otherwise
would be unable to attend an
important summer program.
With this support, girls will be
provided with the opportunity to
enhance their academic abilities,
build their self-confidence and
achieve greater success in school
and in life.
A Message from the Director
I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to continue
the great work of the WNY Women’s Fund. I have been very
impressed with the Fund’s past accomplishments, but I am
most excited about its future.
Our goal is to invest in programs that give women
and girls a context in which to become economically
self-sufficient and self-assured. We seek out programs
that can potentially be modeled at the regional and
national level. Specifically, we support programs that give
working women without assets tools to build personal and Brigid Doherty
financial assets. For girls, we focus on programs that raise
self-esteem, increase academic standards, and inspire dreams.
Buffalo has the second highest poverty rate of any major city with 30%
of families living in poverty. Over 40% of these families have a woman as the
head of the household. Only by giving women the opportunity and the
know-how to build assets can we alleviate poverty.
The Fund is entering its strategic planning process. This is a wonderful
opportunity for us to assess the past and make changes for the future. I looked
forward to keeping you updated on exciting changes taking place at WNY
Women’s Fund as we bring the Fund to the next level. We welcome your
financial support as well as your involvement in volunteer activities.
WNY Women’s Fund
Board of Advisors
President
Tricia Semmelhack, Esq.
Vice Presdient
Sue Gardner, Esq.
Treasurer
Carolyn Valenti
Secretary
Ann Swan
Members
Kristin Bauer
Dorothy Ferguson
Ellen Grant, Ph.D.
Jane Griffin, Ph.D.
Susan Hoskins
Mary Jo Hunt
Martha Hyde, Ph.D
Alison Keane
Alice Kryzan, Esq.
Margery Nobel
Melissa Nowak
Cindy Odom
Marcia O’Neil-White
Jayne Rand
Amy Habib Rittling, Esq.
Anne Saldanha, M.D.
Emeritus Members
Ann Cohn
Patricia Garman
Marsha Henderson
Muriel Howard, Ph.D.
Ruth Kahn Stovroff
Ex-Officio Members
Clotilde Dedecker
Arlene Kaukus
Front: T. Semmekhack, M.E. Balkowski, Middle: S. Gardner, A. Kryzan, M. Hyde,
Back: B. Watson, G. Johnstone, A. Saldanha, D. Ferguson,
Director
Brigid Doherty
Leadership in Philanthropy Award
The University at Buffalo Gender Institute honored the WNY Women’s Fund for its
outstanding work with women and girls in the greater Buffalo-Niagara region at
its 10th-anniversary gala on Oct. 19 at UB’s Jacobs Executive Development Center.
The WNY Women’s Fund received the Leadership in Philanthropy Award for its
leadership in investing in innovative philanthropic solutions that raise money and
give grants to local community programs promoting systemic change for women
and girls to develop self-reliance and economic self-sufficiency.
WNY Women’s Fund
742 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
Phone: 716.887.2621
Fax: 716.887.2770
wnywomensfund.org
Investing in women and girls
742 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
Our mission is
to invest in innovative
solutions to issues
and needs of special
significance to women
and girls in
Western New York.
The WNY Women’s Fund raises money
and makes grants to community
programs that give women and girls
the power to realize their full potential.
The Fund also promotes increased
philanthropy by and for women and girls.
The WNY Women’s Fund is a collaborative
effort between the United Way of
Buffalo & Erie County and the Community
Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
Spring Fundraising
Campaign
We need your support. We believe, with the right resources,
women and girls will make informed choices that will forever
change their lives and our community. Our goal is to help
them seize opportunities, avoid common risks and believe in a
successful future … because we believe in them.
By conducting careful research and working with community
organizations, we focus our support on programs that address
the greatest needs of women and girls in Western New York.
We invest in programs that can effectively remove barriers to
empowerment and success.
The WNY Women’s Fund is most grateful to all those who,
through their generosity, have supported our mission in the
community. All gifts, no matter how big or small, have and will
continue to make a difference in the lives of women and girls
in Western New York.
As a donor to the WNY Women’s Fund you will become a part
of something unique and wonderful in our community. Please join
the many Western New Yorkers who are helping to achieve these
goals through contributions to the WNY Women’s Fund.
Peggy Balbach Founder’s Circle
Individuals:
Peggy* & Charles Balbach
Sarah Hill Buck
Carol & Suzanne Fatta
Dorothy Ferguson
Sue Gardner
Patricia Garman
Marsha Henderson
Susan Hoskins
Mary Jo Hunt
Martha & Thomas Hyde
Alice Jacobs
Gail Johnstone
Gerald Lippes
Sally Marks
Karen Penfold
Wendy Pierce
Corinne & Victor Rice
Anne Saldanha, M.D.
Tricia Semmelhack
Ann Swan
Leslie & Howard Zemsky
Organizations
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
The John R. Oishei Foundation
The Peter C. Cornell Trust
The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County
*Deceased