Junior League of Buffalo in the Community

The Junior League of Buffalo, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Community Impact

At the Junior League of Buffalo, our community impact is focused on Families at Risk.  It is from this focus area that all of our work grows.  As an organization striving to improve everyday life, we have recently taken steps to increase our impact in the community, and streamline our volunteer efforts.

Female heads of households, living in poverty, face tremendous hurdles and are the face of poverty in Western New York.  Two-thirds of families living in poverty in Western New York are headed by a single female.  Many of these women and their families face health, education and self-esteem obstacles.  By working to improve their economic situation, we are sure to create opportunities for tremendous growth and to help reduce the possibility of generational poverty.

Learn more about the road these women travel here, and read about Gina, beginning on Page 30.

 

2011 Community Assistance Small Grants Recipients

Compass House - www.compasshouse.org

$1000 to support programs to cover the expenses of youth ages 21-24 in the Resource Center Program who are making often overwhelming transition form homelessness to adult stability. Funds will be used to support the cost of independent living skills training opportunites and housing assistance.  JLB as a founding member of the Compass House, has always been central to Compass House successful outcomes and they look forward to achieving, celebrating and promoting the results with the Junior League as a key player in Compass House marketing and reporting.        

EPIC (Every Person Influences Children). - www.epicforchildren.org

$1000 funding for Just For Teens Program.  The Just For Teens Program parenting curriculum is a multi-tier approach of delivering critical services to pregnant and parenting teens and takes place in  private rooms during the participants regularly scheduled lunch period.  Funding from the Junior League will specifically be used to offset the cost of producing 150 Just For Teens parent manuals that are provided to each and every participant.  JLB's support will be recognized on the cover of every manual produced for the program in the Buffalo Public School district during 2011-2012 school year.                        

Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc. - www.fjcsafe.org

$1000 to allow the Family Justice Center to provide NFTA Metro bus tokens and parking reimbursements to 100 clients per month by giving domestic violence victims better access to public transportation and convenient, safe parking for victims seeking help.  A bus token is a small thing, but it can be the difference between safety and injury for a victim and their children.  They plan to publicize JLB by creating a press release, listing the donation on the Family Justice website and the mention bi-monthly e-newsletter (circulation 1,000).                                         

Genesee County CASA for Children - www.geneseecountycasa.org

$1000 to provide 6 new volunteers for training and training materials.  In an effort tomcontinue being of service to abused and neglected children of Genesee County, it is critical that new volunteers be recruited and trained and current vounteers maintain up to date training.  For volunteers to work with the clientele, training such as family court process, ethical considerations when working with sensitive populations, utilize community resources, giving fact based reports versus opinion based, child development, crisis management and conflict resolutions and each volunteer is sworn beore a family court judge.  JLB will be recognized for any funds received through paper and online releases agents in Genesee County and noted in their webiste: www.co.genesee.ny.us           

Keep Western New York Beautiful. - www.growny.org

$1000 to assist with informing families about the hazards of soil lead and introduce them to phytoremediation, a simple, cost effective way to address lead-contaminated soil. Funds will inform families about soil lead and safe gardening practices.  A pamphlet entitled "Green to Clean Your Soil" will be distributed to 1,000 families living in Buffalo with the highest incidence of child lead poisoning.  20 families living in neighborhoods with the highest incidence of child lead poisoning will be given sunflower and morning glory seeds to create "get the lead out" garden beds.  JLB's financial support will be noted on the Green to Clean pamphlet and prominently acknowledged in print, broadcast and electronic media releases about findings from the proposed work.                                    

Mental Health Association of Erie County, Inc. - www.eriemha.org

$1000 to provide 150 parenting series manuals and support group sessions in 3 different Head Start locations in the 2011-2012 school year.  The Mental Health Association promotes mental health and well being of the community through education, public information, prevention and training while supporting individuals and families living with mental illness through advocacy, treatment linkage and outreach services.  The Nurtured Heart Approach to Parenting Services will provide information on basic needs in addition to support, advocacy and education regarding raising a child with emotional and/or behavior challenges.  The Junior League of Buffalo's name and logo will be listed as a sponsor in each workbook.                              

St. Monica Campus of the Nativity Miguel Middle School - www.nativitymiguelbuffalo.org

$1000 to help the St. Monica summer leadership program by covering the cost of student transportation and field trips.  The summer program includes opportunities for enrichment beyond the scope of the traditional academic setting or school day, individualized academic support, field trips and other community building activities.  Students come from families at risk including African-American, Latino and refuges fleeing from violence.  To honor investment in the organization, JLB will be added to a press release to local media outlets.  The JLB's name will be displayed at the summer school related field trips and award ceremony at the end of the program.                                  

Thanks and gratitude to the members of this committee for all their expertise, hard work and input: Astrid Willis, Jennifer Berryman, RuthAnn Foley, Kathyrn Mori, Sharon Nosenchuck, Mary Therrien, Barb Leisner, Susan Niver Percy, Karen Sperrazza and Colleen White.