JULY
1 2022
M&T DONATES $10,000 TO INCREASE FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERSHIP IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
The donation supports Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation & Improvement Corp’s First-time Homebuyer Program BUFFALO , NY— As part of its commitment to firsttime homebuyers, M&T Bank has contributed $10,000 to Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation & Improvement Corporation (CHRIC), a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. The donation will support CHRIC’s firsttime homebuyer program, which includes helps with credit, introductions to realtors and lenders, and assistance with budgeting. Classes are offered in both English and Spanish and are open to all homebuyers in Chautauqua County. “The importance of firsttime homebuyer education cannot be overstated said Kim Davis,” M&T’s Mayville Branch Manager. “CHRIC is a wonderful organization that works with countless homebuyers and homeowners to provide financial education and assistance to help make their dream of homeownership a reality. We're thrilled to be able to help them in this endeavor.” M&T Bank serves firsttime homebuyers through several different mortgage programs, including acting as one the leading providers of State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) loans. The bank works closely with homeownership education programs, like CHRIC, to help guide prospective owners through the process of purchasing their first home, while connect-
Photo Submitted Kimberly M. Davis, M & T Bank Branch Manager, and Joshua Freifeld, CHRIC Executive Director.
ing them with resources to make ownership affordable in the long run. “We are grateful to M&T for their contribution to our cause of educating first-time home buyers,” said Joshua Freifeld, Executive Director of CHRIC. “No matter how prepared people think they are, it’s hard to anticipate what the process is like until you’re in it. Our first-time homebuyer program provides
potential homebuyers with the information they need to take the next step with confidence.” Donations to the CHRIC can be made on the agency’s website, located at http:// www.chric.org/ More information on M&T’s mortgage products can be found at https:// www3.mtb.com/mortgages-loans. About M&T M&T Bank Corporation
is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com. ABOUT CHRIC CHRIC is a county-wide non-profit housing agency that has been serving the needs of Chautauqua County residents since 1978. For 44 years, CHRIC has been improving the housing stock of Chautauqua County and the living conditions of its low-income residents. As a chartered NeighborWorks® organization, we provide leadership in strengthening communities and creating affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income families. Over the past five (5) years alone, CHRIC has created 158 New Homeowners, has counseled 855 in Financial Literacy, Repaired or Rehabbed 633 owner-occupied homes, developed or preserved 139 rental homes, assisted 1,973 families in Chautauqua County, provided 633 volunteer hours, and provided a total of direct investment of over $19,099,137 million dollars in Chautauqua County.
Photo Submitted The sooner you submit your photo(s) to Audubon Community Nature Center’s 2022 Nature Photography Contest at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest, the sooner you can start earning votes to win the $200 Community Choice Youth or Adult Award. This picture, “Old Growth” by Alan Wei of Setauket, N.Y, was a Youth Winner in an earlier competition.
Start Earning Votes for Your Entry in Audubon’s 2022 Nature Photo Contest JAMESTOWN, NY - There is more than one way to win $200 in Audubon Community Nature Center’s (ACNC) 2022 Nature Photography Contest. A panel of judges will choose Youth (ages 8 to 18) and Adult (age 19 and older) winners in the categories of Fauna and Landscapes / Waterscapes. Each of those four winners will receive a $200 cash prize. The panel will also name three Youth and three Adult finalists in both categories. Fauna includes any wild animal; no photos of animals in captivity, such as pets, zoos, or rehab animals. Landscapes/Waterscapes can be mountains, forests, fields, deserts, etc.; or oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, etc. As entries are posted at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest, anyone can vote for their favorite for $1 per vote (minimum $5 total). The Youth and Adult entries receiving the most votes are the Community Choice winners, and each receives a $200 cash prize. Three more Youth and Adults will receive finalist recognition. A photo could receive both the Community Choice and a judged award. The sooner you submit your
photograph(s), the longer they can be voted on. You can encourage your friends and family to vote with social media buttons on the site for easy postings. Winning and finalist photographs will be displayed on the contest website along with the photographers’ names and cities of residence. ACNC will print the winning photographs to exhibit in the Nature Center, and winners and finalists will be announced in a widely distributed news release, including to their local media when known. Deadline for submission of photographs is Sunday, August 28, 2022. Full details of the competition are at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ ACNCPhotoContest. Funds raised benefit ACNC’s numerous nature education programs. Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways. To learn more, visit AudubonCNC.org.