Kelly Diane Galloway, Pastor James Giles, Diann Takens and David Zapfel
Igniting transformative change forever
Creating a lasting legacy is no small feat. Yet it is something the Community Foundation is honored to do with our clients on a daily basis. And something we have been doing since 1919.
Five years ago, we marked our first 100 years with The Centennials, a year-long celebration culminating in an exciting evening where 12 local Change Makers were granted a total of $1 million in awards to continue igniting change in our region.
Awards were given in four categories. Eight of the finalists received $25,000 to grant to their favorite organization, and one winner in each category received $100,000 to grant, as well as $100,000 to establish an endowment at the Community Foundation. This gift of a lifetime will ensure their legacies live on forever.
As we celebrated five years since that incredible night, we checked in with our four winners to see how that honor changed their lives.
Kelly Diane Galloway, Up and Comer Award
Grant Award
Kelly chose to award her grant to Project Mona’s House, which works to shed light on human trafficking, to restore those who have been victimized and prevent it from ever happening again through education and legislation.
“That was the first grant ever for Project Mona’s House. With it, we were able to sustain our house, hire two staff members, open a freedom center and pay for the film Sold Next Door, which was featured on PBS in 2024, to let people know that human trafficking is an issue,” Kelly said.
“When somebody asks me, ‘What’s the cost of sustaining your organization?’ I always tell the story of The Centennials and
the impact of $100,000.”
Endowment
Through the Kelly Diane Galloway Legacy Fund, Kelly continues to support Project Mona’s House and has plans to expand her support to other organizations most meaningful to her in the future through her endowment, a sustainable source of funding.
“I would like to sow seeds and see the multiplication that’s able to happen when you give to organizations that just need a chance. That’s all I needed – a chance,” Kelly said.
Pastor James Giles
Cause Award
Grant Award
Pastor Giles chose to award his grant to Back to Basics Ministries, a centralized hub that provides special services for at-risk individuals, families and groups to assist those who struggle with
poverty, lack of support systems, traumas, addiction, mental illness, homelessness, criminal
activity and more.
The grant supported important mobile response efforts. “By May 14, 2022, we really had our mobile response down to a science. We were able to respond to that and have a huge impact on the food supply and material supply during that time,” Pastor Giles noted.
Additionally, he was able to support other organizations, such as Buffalo Peacemakers, Mad Dads and Stop the Violence Coalition, as well as causes, such as reentry, that are important to him.
Endowment
Through the J. Giles Foundation, Pastor Giles will support organizations and causes close to his heart beyond his lifetime.
“Through my fund at the Community Foundation, I am able to send out grants to organizations in need or use it for shortfalls at Back to Basics,” he said.
Diann Takens
Champion Award
Grant Award
Diann awarded her grant to Peace of the City, which offers a range of programs designed to provide young people with the skills, tools and values needed to succeed educationally, break the cycle of poverty and lead meaningful, productive lives.
“It was a different Peace of the City after the Centennial Award,” said Diann. “The crushing impact of COVID was six months around the corner, and the award allowed us to remain open
every day during that whole year that Buffalo Public Schools were closed. It gave me the security of knowing we could provide things like daycare, reliable internet and tutors during that time.”
Endowment
Diann and her three grown daughters are involved in the advising of the Diann R. Takens Endowment Fund, which will support what is most meaningful to her, in her name, forever.
“The Community Foundation wants clients to deeply understand the process and the good that’s coming from their generosity,”
said Diann. “They really take the time to understand the good that clients want to do, and make sure their clients know that they matter and are the foundation of the Foundation.”
David Zapfel
Community Award
Grant Award
David chose to award his grant to Gerard Place, which strengthens the community as it empowers individuals and families toward self-sufficiency by providing housing, supportive services, community education and outreach.
“In 2019, we were trying to renovate our housing building. We had received a few grants, but we needed more to gut the kitchens.
The grant from the Community Foundation allowed us to complete the renovation to make it look like a home for the hundreds of families who come through our 14 apartments,” said David.
Endowment
David established the David Zapfel Charitable Fund to continue providing long-term support to organizations and causes that are important to him and his family, such as food insecurity.
“I wanted to involve my own kids right from the beginning because they’ll take it over when I’m gone,” David said. “It has been a real privilege to be able to have some funds to help other agencies thatI know are doing good work.”
Today, the ripple effect of The Centennials can still be felt far and wide across Western New York. These four individuals, brought together by a desire to do good, will continue to ignite transformative change in our region in their names, forever.
To learn more about these clients and all of The Centennials finalists and to look back on highlights of the event, click here.