The Sabres Foundation Donates $25,000 In
Support To Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
PROCEEDS FROM PERRY’S “TOP SHELF SUNDAE” SALES BENEFIT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (APRIL 8, 2014) ― At a news conference earlier today, Buffalo Sabres Foundation Chief
Development Officer Cliff Benson and Director of Community Relations Rich Jureller, along with Perry’s
Ice Cream Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman Brian Perry, presented Buffalo’s Hillside WorkScholarship Connection (HW-SC) Executive Director Lamont Williams with a donation of $25,000. HW-SC
is a nationally recognized 26-year-old youth-development program that helps students at risk of
dropping out to stay in school and successfully graduate with the skills and confidence they need to
become college and career ready. New York State Senator Tim Kennedy brought HW-SC and the Buffalo
Sabres Foundation together to foster this important partnership, which is already proving to benefit
Buffalo’s youth.
PHoto: (L-R) Terri Schuta, Cliff Benson, Rich Jureller, SabreTooth, Lamont Williams, Elier Ruiz, Ty Kelly,
Brian Perry, Senator Tim Kennedy
“We are grateful for the support of The Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Perry’s— two great sources of
local pride in our community, and for the support of Senator Tim Kennedy who helped make this
partnership possible” Williams said. “These organizations are an outstanding model of local businesses
investing in the future of Buffalo youth.”
HW-SC pairs students with a professional youth advocate through graduation and up to two years posthigh school. School-based youth advocates serve as mentors and role models, working with students to
address their individual needs and the obstacles impeding their success. Services include targeted
academic supports, such as tutoring, test preparation, college readiness, academic skill building, yearround academic enrichment and after-school programming.
"The Buffalo Sabres Foundation is very proud to support the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
program," said Benson. "This comprehensive program is making a significant difference in the lives of
low-income, at-risk youth in Buffalo"
Benson continued, "The funding for our donation was generated through a partnership with Perry's Ice
Cream and the sale of Top Shelf Sundae, where a percentage of each sale is donated to charity. The
Buffalo Sabres Foundation is proud to join forces with two outstanding organizations in an effort to
improve the lives of many deserving children in our community."
Perry's Ice Cream is the official ice cream of the Buffalo Sabres. Since 2006, the fundraising effort has
donated nearly $100,000 to western New York programs including Camp Good Days, World Vision, and
Hillside Family of Agencies.
HW-SC expanded to Buffalo public schools in March 2011, initially enrolling 60 students at South Park
High School. Bennett High School adopted the program in 2012, and today more than 210 students
participate at both high schools. The first cohort of students graduated from South Park in June 2013,
and the largest class of seniors is set to graduate next year.
Photo: HW-SC students with SabreTooth enjoying Perry's Ice Cream.
“As residents of the City of Good Neighbors, Western New Yorkers are always willing to help our
neighbors in need,” Kennedy said. “This is another great example of our community coming together to
give young Western New Yorkers the opportunities they need and deserve to reach their fullest
potential. With this new support from the Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Perry’s Ice Cream, Hillside
Work-Scholarship Connection will have the resources necessary to brighten the futures of even more
local youth.”
HW-SC is an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies, together working to ensure that youth and their
families reach their full potential. A leading provider of family and youth services, Hillside Family of
Agencies provides a system of care in more than 40 locations across New York. The agencies served
10,604 families in 2012.
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
Having celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection is an affiliate of
Hillside Family of Agencies. The program serves nearly 4,000 youth at risk of failing to graduate from
high school in Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo, N.Y., and in Prince George’s County, Md. Hillside WorkScholarship Connection’s evidence-based model is comprehensive and unique, combining long-term
mentoring with job training, part-time work experience and year-round academic support. In 2013,
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection was named to the Social Impact Exchange S&I 100, an index of
top-performing U.S. nonprofits that are poised for growth.
About Hillside Family of Agencies
Having celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2012, Hillside Family of Agencies is one of the oldest family
and youth nonprofit human services organizations in western and central New York. The youth and
family services organization provides child welfare, mental health, youth development, juvenile justice,
special education, and developmental disabilities services across central and western New York and in
Prince George’s County, Md. Last year, Hillside Family of Agencies provided services to 10,604 youth and
families in need.
Hillside Family of Agencies comprises affiliates Crestwood Children's Center, Hillside Children's Center,
Hillside Children's Foundation, Hillside Service Solutions, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection and Snell
Farm Children's Center. For more information, visit www.hillside.com.