Buffalo, NY – Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo a local nonprofit organization committed to helping individuals, families and organizations make their charitable goals a reality, celebrated its first 100 years by recognizing the clients and partners that have played a role in reaching that milestone and by announcing the Centennial Award Endowment Winners and Finalists. They are as follows:
Cause Award Endowment Winner: James Giles; Finalists: Jill Jedlicka and Karen Nicolson
Champion Award Endowment Winner: Diann Takens; Finalists: Michael Martin and Marixsa Sanchez-Feliciano
Community Award Endowment Winner: David Zapfel; Finalists: Fajri Ansari and Jessica Bauer Walker
Up & Comer Award Endowment Winner: Kelly Diane Galloway; Finalists: Dawne Hoeg and Megan McNally
“The Community Foundation has helped ignite change in Western New York alongside our clients for 100 years and the Centennial Awards celebrate everything our organization stands for,” said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President and CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. “Our four endowment winners and eight finalists are creating a more vibrant and inclusive region with opportunity for all and we look forward to seeing the impact they make with their grants and endowments in the near future.”
James Giles, Diann Takens, David Zapfel and Kelly Diane Galloway will be honored with $200,000: $100,000 to make a one-time grant to a Western New York nonprofit and $100,000 to create an endowment at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo that will allow them to make grants in their name forever.
The eight finalists – Jill Jedlicka, Karen Nicolson, Michael Martin, Marixsa Sanchez-Feliciano, Fajri Ansari, Jessica Bauer Walker, Dawne Hoeg and Megan McNally – will receive $25,000 each to grant to one Western New York nonprofit of their choice.
The four winners and eight finalists were selected after a community-wide nomination process held in February and March 2019, followed by the Centennial Selection Committee’s thorough and thoughtful review of more than 500 nominations representing all eight counties of Western New York. The finalists were honored at the Community Foundation’s Centennial Celebration held on September 24, 2019, at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The Centennial Celebration was made possible by Colonial Consulting LLC, Hodgson Russ LLP, Harmac Medical Products, Inc., and Walsh Duffield Companies, Inc.
For more information on each finalist and for information on the Centennials Awards, visit www.CentennialAwards.org. To learn more about the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, visit www.cfgb.org.
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About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Celebrating its centennial year in 2019, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo was established in 1919 to enhance and encourage long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. For 100 years, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at www.cfgb.org.