The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative® (CGLI), a fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, recognizes the importance of endowment-building as a sustainable means of inspiring philanthropy for and within communities of color. CGLI Council Members all share a desire to “pay it forward” in honor of those who helped them succeed by creating a legacy of success that will encourage collective giving to support positive change in the lives of youth of color.
Mission
The mission of the CGLI is to cultivate positive change in the lives of trailblazing youth of color living within Western New York. CGLI accomplishes this mission via endowment building, engaging strategic partners and intentional community connections.
Goals
1. Provide an endowed vehicle for collaborative grantmaking;
2. Inspire philanthropy within and for communities of color in Western New York;
3. Cultivate the next generation of philanthropists of color; and
4. Create positive change in the lives of trailblazing youth of color.
We are grateful for the generosity of those individuals, families and organizations who support our endowment.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has generously supported the work of the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative over the years. Currently, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is providing support through its Catalyzing Community Giving Program.
Legacy Access Donors
• BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York (HealthNow Healthy Living Fund)
• Charles Balbach
• Ruth Matthews
Close Up Washington, D.C.
Success Looks Like Me
GM Tonawanda Engine Plant
Leadership
CGLI Council Officers:
Oswaldo Mestre, Jr., Chair
Robert Lowery, Vice Chair
Karla E. Kawenniiostha General, Secretary
Oluwole (OJ) McFoy, Treasurer
CGLI Council Members:
Michele Agosto
Tammy Alsace, Ph.D.
Thomas Beauford, Jr.
Steven K. Gathers
Danis J. Gehl, Ph.D.
Tanya Staples
Leah M. Halton-Pope
Ruth Bryant
Sean McKinnie
Derrick Parson
Talia Rodriguez, J.D.
Honorary Council:
Donald Boswell
Jennifer J. Parker, J.D.
Lou Santiago
The late Hon. Hugh B. Scott
Alphonso O’Neil-White
Karen Lee Spaulding
The Young Philanthropists
In March 2016, The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative (CGLI) launched The Young Philanthropists (TYPs) for high school students. TYPs participate in a program designed to spark their curiosity about grantmaking, community impact and philanthropy. After hearing from community leaders and philanthropists in the community, TYPs have the opportunity to award two $1,500 grants to community organizations.
In September, 2022 TYPs were honored at a Capstone Ceremony, during which they also awarded $1,500 grants to the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology and The Belle Center. Read the press release here.
Emerging Philanthropists of Color
The Emerging Philanthropists of Color (EPC) initiative is a unique giving circle of the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative (CGLI). It offers access to people, places and experiences for entrepreneurial individuals of color who are enthusiastic about collective giving. As a result, joining EPC is a life-changing experience.
Benefits
An EPC membership provides members with the rare opportunity of being both mentor and protégé. Members have special access to civic leaders and philanthropists of color on the CGLI Council for mentoring, networking and inspiration. In addition, members have numerous opportunities to share their experiences with the youth who participate in CGLI activities.
Networking
Social gatherings with people of color
Opportunity to “Pay it Forward” to the next generation
Participation in the Community Foundation’s 21st Century Fund
Sponsored by the Communities of Giving Legacy, the Close Up Washington, D.C. Experience is an annual eight-month journey into civic education, culminating in a trip to Washington, D.C. in late June. It provides students with opportunities to engage with fellow high school peers from around the country and the world. They also learn about our government and democracy during the week-long civic engagement trip.
Participants in this program commit to eight months of social change. The highlight of the program is learning in the classroom. The classroom in this case is the foundation of democracy; our nation’s capital. Our youth will visit everything from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to the Smithsonian Museums — and much more, all while interacting with peers.
Experiences like this are possible thanks to the generous support from the community. If you would like to sponsor a student, please email cgli@cfgb.org.
Pay It Forward Awards
Each year, the CGLI recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations that embody its mission of cultivating positive change in the lives of trailblazing youth of color living within Western New York. Awardees are honored at the annual Pay It Forward Awards in November.
The Pay It Forward Awards recognize personal and professional accomplishments and how those actions increase philanthropy in communities of color. Emphasis is placed on service to the community and educating the next generation, with a focus on showcasing community champions that reflect the multicultural and ethnic diversity of the CGLI mission.
In 2022, the CGLI also established two new community service awards to honor the legacy of Judge Hugh B. Scott. The recipients of the new awards were also recognized during the Pay It forward awards on November 3, 2022.
Join us in congratulating the 2022 Recipients:
Pay It Forward Award: Tiffany Lewis,Confident Girl Mentoring
Judge Hugh B. Scott Community Service Award:
Daphne Ross,Say Yes Buffalo
Judge Hugh B. Scott Inspiring Youth Community Service Award: Afsah Kamran,Amherst Central High School
In March 2016, The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative (CGLI) launched The Young Philanthr
The Emerging Philanthropists of Color (EPC) initiative is a unique giving circle of the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative (CGLI). It offers access to people, places and experiences for entrepreneurial individuals of color who are enthusiastic about collective giving. As a result, joining EPC is a life-changing experience.
