Citation Event 2021

2021 NFJC Citation Event Program Celebrating 68 years of recognizing outstanding members in our community

October 15, 2021 6:00pm Reikart Ballroom @ Jazzboline

Program

5:30 PM

Pre event entertainment featuring Jerry Weldon

6:00 PM

Citation Event hosted by CoChairs Catherine Schweitzer, Bernie Tolbert, and NFJC President Rene Petties-Jones

Legacy Awards:

Herbert L. Bellamy, Jr. Dr. Michael Cain Deborah Goldman and Dr. Grant Golden Up & Coming Award:

Jamil Crews

Corporate Stewardship Award:

M&T Bank

7:00 PM

Dinner and post event live networking

Meet our Honorees: Legacy Awards Herbert L. Bellamy, Jr. CEO of Bellamy Enterprises and Buffalo's Black Achievers, Inc.

Herbert L. Bellamy, Jr. is a life-long resident of the City of Buffalo. He's currently the CEO of Bellamy Enterprises, and Buffalo's Black Achievers, Inc. Herb began his entrepreneurial, personal and civic development as a young man in the family grocery business. He then began selling several different products before evolving into a successful insurance broker and financial planner for over 20 years. Under the umbrella of Bellamy Enterprises, he has developed several businesses, and currently is involved in managing numerous projects.

As the CEO of Bellamy Enterprises, he serves as a developer. He has successfully completed 1490 Estates (60) unit Senior Housing, Bellamy Commons (30) unit affordable housing, and the JHB Professional.

Bellamy Enterprises - In conjunction with People Inc, CSS Construction & Sinatra Companies are currently developing a mixed - use site of 84 units and 20,000 sq. ft. of retail/office space on the historic Jefferson Avenue corridor. Total development cost $22,000,000. In addition, Herb is currently working on the development of the Black Achievers Museum. Herbert L. Bellamy, Jr., currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Buffalo Sewer Authority.

During his 27 years as the Chair, he has managed an annual budget in excess of $50 Million. For the last twenty seven years, the Buffalo Sewer Authority has received a Certificate of Achievement Award for Excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

As the CEO of Buffalo's Black Achievers, Inc., he recognizes the purpose of the awards event is to show the community the variety and quality of achievements of black people in the community. Images are powerful in our society; this event uses positive images of Black Americans to educate and inspire the community. For the larger population, this event publicly counters the too common stereotype of African American poverty and crime with inspiring stories of personal and community achievement. This event educates the public about blacks and their capabilities , and thereby combats racial discrimination. The past 40 years, Black Achievers has honored over 2,000 recipients.

Herbert Jr. has been active on several boards and is the recipient of numerous professional, civic, and community organizations awards. His community involvement consists of several speaking engagements at youth programs, advocating and mentoring young entrepreneurs. The Black Achievers, Inc. provides Educational Incentive Awards to High School recipients.

In his spare time, he enjoys sports, music, traveling, and is an avid reader. His perspective on change: "The world is changing and it's important that we learn from each generation and never take our predecessors for granted." Mr. Herbert L. Bellamy's vision of success is "Change your thoughts, change your world."

Dr. Michael Cain

Vice President for Health Sciences Dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Michael E. Cain, MD, came to the University at Buffalo in 2006 from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he was director of the Cardiovascular Division and Tobias and Hortense Lewin Professor of Medicine.

Cain is a graduate of Gettysburg College and received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed training in internal medicine and cardiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine. He was a clinical/research fellow in clinical cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

An internationally recognized physician-scientist, Cain specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, the examination of the heart’s electrical system. He is a translational researcher, clinician and educator. His research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has been directed at the electrophysiological determinants of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in the setting of healed myocardial infarction.

Cain is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. He is a past president of the Association of Professors of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society, and past chair of the board of directors of The Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Science.

He presently serves on the Boards of Directors of HEALTHeLink, Great Lakes Health, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and the Associated Medical Schools of New York. During the COVID pandemic, he served as a member of the Lieutenant Governor Hochul’s Control Room and as a co-leader of the Western New York Vaccination HUB. He has received many awards including, the Hans-Peter Krayenbuehl Memorial Award for Research in Cardiac Function from the International Academy of Cardiology, the American Heart Association’s Arthur E. Strauss Award, the Heart Rhythm Society’s Distinguished Service Award, the Stanley J. Sarnoff Spirit Award, the Resident/Fellow Achievement Award from Washington University School of Medicine, the Leadership Buffalo Value Award for Inclusion, the University at Buffalo President’s Medal, and the Community Partner Award.

Deborah Goldman & Dr. Grant Golden

Community Philanthropists

Over the years, Dr. Grant Golden has worn a number of hats. He has been practicing Radiology in Buffalo since 1981, for the past 20 years, with Seton Imaging. He has written the scores (and some of the books) for several locally produced musicals. He created the Old Chestnut Film Society and ran it for more than 35 years. Dr. Golden reviewed local plays on the radio for 20 years--on WBEN and WBFO—before making the switch to Buffalo Rising. He is the volunteer Dramatic Reader at the St Joseph University School, and presently serves on the board of Congregation Beth Abraham.

Deborah Goldman is the Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and is a member of the Buffalo Jewish Federation Board of Governors. She served as Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York Board Chair, and in numerous volunteer leadership roles in the Jewish and general Buffalo Community. After serving in local government, Deborah is currently a consultant for behavioral health agencies, counties, and not-for-profits across New York State, and for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. She was honored to chair the recent JCRC Racial Justice Work Group.

For a number of years, Goldman and Golden, with the assistance of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies, have lent their support to a variety of worthy local ventures. Examples include funding for the Massachusetts Avenue Project Mobile Market, the Buffalo Museum of Science Neighborhood Pass, the Erie County Public Library for in-city programming and for their ongoing exhibition: “B is for Book”, Buffalo Zoo memberships for families in low-income zip codes, Planned Parenthood of CWNY for clinic renovations, Say Yes for summer programming, and support for theaters and other arts venues, to facilitate programming during the pandemic. While their philanthropic work is still in its early stages, Deborah and Grant are nonetheless proud of their record to date.

“We love living in Buffalo and appreciate all that the community has to offer. We have been fortunate, and we genuinely enjoy giving something back to our wonderful hometown.”

Goldman and Golden live near Delaware Park with their dog Cora, and cats Ella and Felix. They have three adult children, and two interesting grandchildren.

Up and Coming Award Jamil Crews Say Yes Buffalo

Jamil is an accomplished leader, visionary and community advocate who looks to make a difference in the lives of those he touches. Professionally, he works as Digital Communications Manager for Say Yes Buffalo. In this role, he uses the power of storytelling through digital technology to help remove barriers to educational attainment, workforce participation and economic mobility for students in public and charter schools in Buffalo, NY. Jamil is also the founder and executive producer of the Changemakers 30 Under 30 Awards, the largest awards show in the region honoring young professionals across diverse fields of work.

Jamil has a servants heart and serves in a number of different capacities throughout the community, including as Eastern Region Vice President for the National Urban League Young Professionals; Board Chair for the William-Emslie YMCA; Board Member for the Buffalo Urban League; a member of Forbes the Culture and a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. In 2020, he used his influence and social platforms to raise awareness around social justice issues. He organized a community run in honor of Ahmaud Arbery as well as was on the frontlines for the protests that were happening both locally and nationally. He also helped create Buy Black Buffalo, an initiative geared at supporting Black-owned businesses by giving them more visibility in the City, as well as access to resources to help them scale.

In 2021, he was part of what he describes as a “life-changing” initiative called The FreeThem Walk, a 902-mile WALK from Virginia to Buffalo that was intended to raise awareness around human trafficking/modern day slavery. He was one of the walkers and played a role in helping to organize the logistics of the walk as well as personally raising thousands of dollars to support the long term mission of the organization sponsoring the walk, Project Mona’s House.

Corporate Stewardship Award M&T Bank

M&T Bank traces its origins to the founding of Manufacturers and Traders Bank in Buffalo, New York. As a result of mergers, acquisitions and name changes, M&T Bank Corporation's principal bank is now known as Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, or M&T Bank. M&T Bank reorganized under a bank holding company in 1969 called First Empire State Corporation. The name was changed in 1998 to M&T Bank Corporation.

Founded in 1856, M&T Bank is one of the top 20 full-service U.S.-based commercial banks, with 18,000 employees and a long history of community-focused banking.

M&T Bank Corporation had $143 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020, and is one of the 20 largest commercial bank holding companies in the U.S. M&T Bank has over 700 domestic branches & over 1,800 ATM's across New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. M&T is a community bank, delivering the capabilities of a big bank with the care and empathy of a locally-focused institution. M&T offers offer advice, guidance, expertise and solutions across the entire financial spectrum, combining M&T’s traditional banking services with the wealth management and institutional capabilities offered

by Wilmington Trust.

M&T is investing in the growth and sustainability of the businesses and communities they serve, attracting and retaining diverse clients and colleagues across their organization so they can truly reflect our multicultural communities. They believe that time is their most valuable asset. When it comes to giving back, they prefer sharing their time with the people in the community. Their employees receive 40 hours of volunteer time to share with the organization that speaks to them.

Led by Company Executives Rene F. Jones (Chairman and CEO), Richard S. Gold (President and COO) and Kevin J. Pearson (Vice Chairman), the M&T Bank Executive Team’s experience serves to strengthen M&T's standing as one of the nation's best-performing regional banks.

Our Sponsors...

Presenting Sponsor

Champion Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

pn

Champion Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

pn

Champion Sponsors

pn

Leadership Sponsors

Unity/Nonprofit Sponsors

Unity Nonprofit Sponsors

Unity Nonprofit Sponsors

Native American Community Services

Congratulations to all the Honorees!

1005 Grant St. #A Buffalo, NY 14207 | 716.874.4460

Meet the NFJC TeamThough it's been a tough couple of years, the NFJC continues to find ways to connect people together. Be it via Zoom or other electronic means or even the old fashioned way of the telephone, we will work tirelessly to bridge the divides we face in our community. We hold on to the hope of creating a more just and more inclusive region for all! We thank each of Rene Petties-Jones you for your support of our mission and goals!

President

Marc Rummenie Program Director

Lyn Leopold Office Manager

I am so proud of the work this incredible team has done to create dialogue and foster movement around issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout the pandemic. In the last 18 months, we have worked with thousands of WNYers in business, schools, healthcare sectors and more to increase opportunities for respectful cross cultural communication and interaction.

Even after fourteen years at the NFJC of WNY, Inc. I am still in awe of the conversations we have created in our community and the relationships that have been built. I look forward to that day when we can get back to our old normal of meeting people face to face in their schools, workplaces and houses of worship.

Our Leadership President

Board of Directors

Rene Petties-Jones

Christina Arthurs

Chairperson

Hon. Susan Eagan

Bernie Tolbert

Dawn Gilliam

Vice Chairpersons

Anne Joynt

Tamara Alsace

Mark Laurrie

Gretchen Geitter

Rabbi Alexander Lazarus-Klein

Michael Martin

Maureen Lynch

Bradford Watts

Larry Martin

Treasurer

Hon. Amy Martoche

David Schmidt

Anna S. M. McCarthy

Secretary

Cantor Penny Myers

Amanda Hays

Emily Burns Perryman

Assistant Secretary

Suzanne Rosenblith

Lori Pratt

Sheldon Smith

Foundation Consultant

DeWan Stroud

Catherine Schweitzer

BJ Stasio

Legal Counsel James Smyton

Student Advisors

National Board Representative

Sam Farrell

Craig Pridgen

Jamal Harris, Jr.

Immediate Past Chair

Patricia Ann Jordan

Glenn Jackson

programs@nfjcwny.org wwwnfjcwny.org 360 Delaware Avenue Suite 106 Buffalo, NY 14202

716 853.9596

2021 Community Heroes Awards & Poster Contest

Highlights

from throughout the year...

MLK Event featuring Inauguration speaker Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman

A conversation with Lisa McNair...

Sister of Denise McNair killed in Alabama Church bombing

Multi-faith Thanksgiving Service

MLK Celebration in Niagara Falls

Join us for our next book discussion featuring the short stories of James Baldwin. Details on our website