Thankful for all who support the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund and its mission.
Congratulations on another successful Celebration Luncheon!
Marcy & Mike Newman
Student Greeters Christian Central Academy St. Mary’s High School
Mistress of Ceremonies .............................. Melissa Holmes
Co-Anchor of WGRZ-TV Daybreak
Welcome .......... Jesse & Kevin McMullen, Co-Chair Couple
Marcy & Mike Newman, Co-Chair Couple
Opening Song ......................... Kiesha Adamczyk-Bennett BISON Alumna
Invocation ....................................
Bishop Darius G. Pridgen True Bethel Baptist Church, Senior Pastor
Keynote Speaker .......................................
Amy E. Popadick
BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund Executive Director
Expressions of Gratitude ......................
Camden Christian Former BISON scholar from Nardin Academy and current student at Nichols School
Karen Green
Principal from St. Joseph Regional School, Batavia
Martin Cohn and Liza Rivera
Former BISON scholar from Mandala School and current Cullen scholar at Canisius High School and his Mom
Closing Song .......... Catholic Academy of West Buffalo
Join us in our Matching Challenge Grant today! Your dollars will be matched up to $25,000!!
Jonathan Amoia
Kristin Bauer
Paul Bauer
Tom Beecher
Andrew Fors
Hon. Chris Jacobs
Tod Martin
Mike McCabe
Hon. Nancy Naples
Shawn Pearce
Fr. Joe Rogliano
Christine Standish
Betsy Sullivan
Dennis Szymkowiak
Kellie Ulrich
Heather Williams †
President’s Council Designees
Jesse & Kevin McMullen, Co-Chairs
Marcy & Mike Newman, Co-Chairs
Kristin Bauer
Liz Bevilacqua
Molly Boscarino
Susan Burns Luhr
John Celani
Jean Comer
Laurin Derrick
Andrea Feine
Lauren Ferranti
Therese Fuerst
Sarah Gramaglia
Collins Hayes
Hadley Horrigan
Kelli Hunt
Tim Kane
Martha Lamparelli
Ashley Luehrsen
Cindy Mang
Margaux Militello
Clara Moran
Barb Nuchereno
Thea Pecht
Ann Popadick
Chris Ring
Liz Rittling
Jacob Stanley
Jourdan Stevenson
Betsy Sullivan
Ellen Sullivan-Garcia
Pamela Jacobs Vogt
Michele Walter
Gina Warthling
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Amy E. Popadick
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Cindy McDonald
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Jean Cropp
VALEDICTORIAN
Christine Standish & Chris Wilk
to all of the supporters of the
for providing access and opportunity for children and families in Western New York.
Best Wishes to all BISON Fund recipients!
We also wish to thank our additional sponsors that were confirmed after our print deadline.
Kristin & David Bauer
Mary Grace & Paul Bauer
Pamela Jacobs Vogt
Mary & David Pietrowski
Newman Properties
memory of
1963-2023
We miss the contagious energy of our dear board member Heather, who was a champion for advancing educational access for all children. On behalf of the families we serve, we thank Heather for her many years of support and service to BISON
Children’s Scholarship Fund.
The Popadick Family
Liz & Bill Bevilacqua
Jen Persico & David D’Arata
Hadley & Scott Horrigan
Susan & Alfred Luhr
Hon. Nancy A. Naples
On behalf of the BISON Board of Directors, and your staff members Cindy & Jean, we thank you, Amy, for a decade of service as the Executive Director of BISON.
You have been the heart and soul of BISON!
As you embark on your next journey with the Children’s Scholarship Fund, we celebrate you and honor your lasting impact on BISON.
BankOnBuffalo
Barrantys
BestSelf Behavioral Health
Canisius High School
Canisius University
Cardinal O’Hara High School
Colucci & Gallagher, P.C. Connors LLP
Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Ellicott Development Company
Frey Electric
Danielle & Luke Jacobs
John W. Danforth Co.
Kaleida Health
Keller Technology
Lamparelli Construction
Kim & Tony Lana
Lippes Mathias LLP
MBK & Associates, Inc.
Merchants Insurance Group
Nardin Academy
Niagara University
Nichols School
Northeastern Appraisal Associates
Barb & Lou Nuchereno
PCI
Celia & Shawn Pearce
Personal Touch Food Service, Inc.
Phillips Lytle
Corrine Rice
Rich Products Corp.
Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC
Schutte Hospitality Group
Southtowns Financial Group, Inc.
St. Amelia School
St. Joseph University Parish
St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
Towne Auto Group
Vascular Associates of WNY
World Wide Bonding Agency
One hundred percent (100%) of your donation to the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund Luncheon today will provide a scholarship for a deserving WNY student!
We are grateful for our partners in giving families a choice and children a chance through educational choice in Western New York. Thank you to our educational partners:
Al-Rasheed Academy
Amherst Christian Academy
Aurora Waldorf School
Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School
Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart
Buffalo Seminary
Buffalo Suburban Christian Academy
Canisius High School
Cardinal O’Hara High School
Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls
Catholic Academy of West Buffalo
Center Road Christian Academy
Central Christian Academy
Chautauqua Christian Academy
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo
Christ the King School
Christ the King Preparatory Academy
Christian Academy of Western New York
Christian Central Academy
DeSales Catholic School
Elmwood Franklin School
Holy Ghost Lutheran School
Houghton Academy
Immaculate Conception School, E.Aurora
Mandala School
Mount Mercy Academy
Mount St. Mary Academy
Nardin Academy
Nardin Academy Elementary School
Nativity of Mary School
Nativity of Our Lord School
New Creation Fellowship Academy
New Life Christian School
Nichols School
Northern Chautauqua Catholic School
Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame High School, Batavia
Ohr Temimim School
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Our Lady of Victory School
Parker-Jordan Christian Academy
Queen of Heaven School
Sacred Heart Villa School
Saints Tabernacle School of Excellence
Southern Tier School
Southtowns Catholic School
Sprouting Minds Montessori School
SS Peter & Paul School, Hamburg
SS Peter & Paul School, Williamsville
St. Amelia School
St. Andrew’s Country Day School
St. Benedict School
St. Christopher Catholic School
St. Francis High School
St. Gregory the Great School
St. John Lutheran School
St. John the Baptist School, Alden
St. John the Baptist School, Kenmore
St. John Vianney School
St. Joseph Regional School
St. Joseph University School
St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
St. Mark School
St. Mary School, Swormville
St. Mary’s Elementary School
St. Mary’s High School
St. Paul’s Lutheran School
St. Peter’s Lutheran School
St. Peter’s Roman R.C. School
St. Stephen School
Stella Niagara Education Park
The Gow School
The Park School of Buffalo
Trinity Christian School
Universal School
West Seneca Christian School
“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
– Malcolm Forbes
Proudly supports the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund.
BISON especially thanks the following for their help in today’s Luncheon:
• Our Event Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Committee members. We couldn’t do it without you!
• Dedicated BISON Board of Directors, President’s Council and BISON staff;
• Dave Pietrowski, for underwriting our BNCC AV needs;
• Betsy Sullivan at Create 615, for program layout and design;
• Katie Schneider, from Katie Schneider Photography, for capturing our BISON scholars at work;
• Melissa Holmes, from WGRZ-TV, for being today’s emcee;
• Our amazing students and parents who shared their thoughts about BISON during today’s event & the impact BISON has had on their and their families’ lives;
• Mark Dellas, for today’s event photography;
• Watson’s, for today’s sweet treats on the tables;
• Elbers, for providing today’s beautiful mums;
• The amazing staff of Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, for hosting us today; and
• Our partner schools, families and students, who are the reason we are all here!
KIESHA ADAMCZYK-BENNETT is a former recipient of the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund and remains grateful to the organization for their beautiful contribution to our community. Kiesha is a Licensed Real Estate Broker & the owner of Faith Real Estates Services, Inc. here in Buffalo NY, as well as a professional singer and commercial actress.
Kiesha is grateful to be able to share her God-given gift of song with her city.
Al-Rasheed Academy
Northern Chautauqua Catholic School
Athieng
Mount Mercy Academy
The Hooper Legacy Foundation is proud to support the BISON CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND in advancing their mission of providing access to quality education for children across WNY.
We value your partnership greatly. Without the support of generous people like you, BISON could not help as many WNY families. Supporting BISON is a great way to give back to our community.
Cash Gifts:
Credit Card: Visit bisonfund.com & click “Make a Gift”
Check: Please make check payable and mail to:
“The BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund” 284 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202
Stock or wire transfer OR Planned Gifts (Bequests): Please contact Amy Popadick using contact information below.
Corporate Giving & Matching Gifts: Many employers will match tax-deductible charitable contributions made by their employees. For more information, please inquire with your company. BISON Federal Tax ID#: 16-1477288
United Way:
The BISON Fund is eligible to receive donor designated funds through the United Way. BISON’s code is 1299
Sponsorship:
Be an event sponsor at a BISON fundraising event.
Volunteer:
Organize a volunteer day for your employees that benefits a BISON partner school or BISON mission, or have one of your business executives join the BISON Board of Directors.
For more information, please contact Amy Popadick at 716.854.0869 or APopadick@bisonfund.com.
The President’s Council is BISON’s next generation of leaders who are concerned about our education system and passionate about BISON’s mission that children have the best chance at a bright future when families have a choice in selecting the education that best fits their child’s needs. They seek to raise awareness about BISON’s work; financially support BISON scholarships; and provide additional learning and mentoring activities for BISON scholars.
Cara Austin National Fuel Gas
Benjamin Burge Rupp Pfalzgraf, LLC
Alex Caldiero KeyBank
Thomas Caraher Phillips Lytle LLP
Will Ciszewski
Hodgson Russ LLP
David Conboy M&T Bank
Neil Farrell Farrell Financial
Cailin Gibbons Nestle
Nick Ingrassia
Block Longo LaMarca & Brzezinski PC
Fallon Martin
Hodgson Russ LLP
Christian Martinez Sandhill Investment Management
Meg McParlane
National Fuel Gas
Michael Postles Gallagher
Mitch Ream Lippes Mathias LLP
Nico Santos Breef
Phil Scaffidi Kangarootime
Erin Schieb
Equitable Advisors
Catherine Sheedy
Delaware North
Jessica Smith
BestSelf Behavioral Health
Samantha Soltis
Douglas Development
Sammy Sortisio Blu Spa / DCS Development
Harry Steinwald
Trubee Wealth Advisors
Mike Taboni
Crowley Webb
In grateful recognition of the generosity of our benefactors, and with special thanks for the wisdom and fortitude of my fellow co-founders
Paul Bauer and Christopher Jacobs, I offer my sincere Congratulations
to the staff and scholars of the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund
THOMAS R. BEECHER, Jr.
We are proud to announce that the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund has once again earned a 4-out-of 4-star rating from the country’s premier charity evaluator, Charity Navigator!
This is the tenth (10th) consecutive year that BISON has earned this top distinction, validating that our donor dollars directly support our mission of providing tuition assistance to low-income children in a fiscally responsible way.
According to Charity Navigator, less than 4% of charities have received at least ten consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that the BISON Fund outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates the BISON Fund from its peers and demonstrates to the public that BISON’s commitment to WNY’s future leaders is ingrained in everything we do. Charity Navigator bases its ratings on nonprofits’ financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars.
Thank you for trusting us with your donations, your volunteer time, and your good will. Your support means so much to us and to the families we serve.
Kristin
and David Bauer and their family are proud to support the
At Delaware North, we believe a quality education can put every child on the path to a brighter future. We’re proud to support the work of the Bison Children’s Scholarship Fund as it delivers the power of education to thousands of children from across Western New York.
Thank You all for your generosity
Over the past
29 years!
At AML RightSource, we believe in lifelong learning. We educate ourselves and others to make the world a safer place and model the superheroes we admired as children. That is why we are proud to support the BISON Children’s Scholarship fund as they broaden educational opportunities for the superheroes of tomorrow.
AML RightSource: Reimagining Compliance with Dedicated Experts and Cutting-Edge Technology. Visit our website today www.amlrightsource.com
to the recipients of the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund!
We wish you continued success in all your future endeavors!
Jen Persico and Dave D’Arata
On behalf of Joe Dash & The Dash Family
D’Youville University proudly supports the BISON CHILDREN’S Scholarship Fund.
We’re proud to support the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund and their mission to expand access to education.
HUNT Real Estate proudly supports the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund.
Independent Health is proud to support the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund for their passion for making a difference. Their commitment to excellence and dedication to help improve the lives of others brings the essence of the RedShirt® Treatment to life.
Proud to support BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund and the Annual Luncheon Celebration
Susan & Al Luhr
Scholarship Fund, serving the youth of Western New York for more than 29 years.
Congratulations to our Executive Director Amy Popadick and her fabulous Special Event Committee for their ongoing success.
Focusing our energy on what matters.
Congratulations on a successful Luncheon supporting BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund
... and best wishes to Amy Popadick on your future endeavors!
Many thanks for all your work to help the families in WNY.
29 years of success!
We are proud of the impact you have had on families in Western New York ... changing the future of so many then and now!
we are grateful for all that you do for the WNY community
Thanks to everyone that supports The BISON Children’s ScholarshipFund!
Luke and Danielle Jacobs
Barbara S. Nuchereno, Attorney Louis J. Nuchereno, President, Northern Complex
In loving memory of Victor and our long-standing support of educational choice, I congratulate all of the BISON scholarship recipients as well as the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund for all that they do to make the future brighter for Western New York!
CORINNE RICE
Proud supporter of the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund
H.A.C.I. Alumni Association
is proud to congratulate our partner, the BISON CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The BFHS/HACI Alumni supports Catholic Education through annual events:
Annual BFHS/HACI Hall of Fame Dinner - October 20, 2023 at Sean Patrick’s
Michael Kirwan Golf Tournament - June 17, 2024 at Fox Valley Club - proceeds to benefit Catholic Education
Annual All-Years Reunion - August 3, 2024
MANUEL AJA, President and Catholic Education Chair bishopfallon.org
We proudly support BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund and its commitment to helping the children of Western New York.
We are proud to support the Bison Children’s Scholarship Fund that helps young students and families reach their dreams.
To donate today with cash or check, please use the donation envelopes found on the tables. Or use a credit card and scan the QR code below. Scan the QR code with your smartphone:
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