WEDI - Annual Report 2018

WESTMINSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | EDUCATION | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BIG IMPACT FROM THE GROUND UP

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WEDI BUFFALO TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Message from Executive Director 5

ABOUT About WEDI Buffalo 6

HIGHLIGHTS Economic Development 7 Education 11 Community Development 17

SUCCESS STORIES Ethiopian Restaurant Sees Growth Ahead 21 Following His Dream to Grow 22 Business Counselors and ‘Cheerleaders’ Helped Her Launch 23 Teachers Wondered How Students Improved So Much 24

FINANCIAL Income & Expenses 25

WE COULDN'T DO IT ALONE Supporters and Funders 26 Get Involved 29 Board of Directors 31

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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear friends: WEDI continued to grow in 2018 and fulfill its mission to empower economically disadvantaged people in Buffalo.

From young children to high schoolers in our after-school programs, to vendors at the West Side Bazaar, to the hundreds of people receiving financial coaching and loans,

includes over 250 unduplicated prospective and established business owners who are in the training and technical assistance process. WEDI has disbursed a little over $1M to businesses that needed capital but lacked access to financing from other sources, and this capital has created or retained over 200 jobs.

WEDI continues to make a significant difference in the

The Education Program started two after-school programs

community.

for English language learners at Lafayette International

The Community Development Program team has been hard at work planning for an expanded Bazaar while making the current Bazaar a better community steward by learning and implementing thoughtful food systems. The food systems encourage local sourcing of produce and utilization of ecofriendly containers that will have a larger impact to our local economy and be a sustainable and responsible model for our vendors. In 2018, the occupancy rate of the Bazaar was 95% with 1 new business and 3 graduates.

In Economic Development, our loan program was reinvented to make smaller loans available to more people.

Now loan services are more accessible to clients, and the loan approval process is more efficient. An additional loan review committee has been formed that gives WEDI the ability to get much-needed capital to businesses faster.

The new system also calls for more pre- and post- loan assistance to be offered - which results in increased success

High School, and the ENERGY space at Westminster Presbyterian Church was completely renovated through a collaboration with the church. The first new program, Launch, provides academic support, exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, as well as soft skills and workforce development training. The second, Girls Club, supports teenage girls to increase self esteem and prevent bullying. Plans are in the works to develop another program at Lafayette for female students focusing on academics and prevention, with the overarching goal of increasing graduation rates for female English language learners.

We are proud of these accomplishments and look forward to achieving even more in 2019. Our success is a direct result of ongoing support from our generous donors, Westminster Presbyterian Church, our dedicated volunteers, and committed staff. On behalf of WEDI and the communities we serve - thank you.

for our clients. Through 165 small business microloans, WEDI has supported the startup and/or the expansion of 88 businesses. Over 350 small business owners and entrepreneurs were served in 2018 through WEDI’s oneon-one technical assistance. WEDI’s current pipeline

CAROLYNN WELCH Executive Director

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WHAT IS WEDI ? to America - immigrants, refugees and asylees.

Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc. (WEDI) started its work renovating and building homes on the West Side of Buffalo in 2006 in partnership

Today, as WEDI’s footprint grows, the organization

with Habitat for Humanity. It’s goal was to improve the

is helping a wider swath of the city’s low-income

quality of life for the people living there.

population.

WEDI has grown significantly since then, starting a

These are very exciting times for WEDI. It is managing

business mentoring program, establishing a small

the Kitchen @ the Market, a commercial kitchen

business microloan fund, opening a popular restaurant/

where food vendors can make food products to be

business incubator called the West Side Bazaar, and

sold elsewhere. WEDI is also expanding its education

operating four after-school programs for English

programs and it is beginning work on a larger West

language learners in grades 1-12.

Side Bazaar to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking to open restaurants and businesses. The

WEDI’s mission has always focused on empowering

Bazaar will be an attractive and vibrant contribution to

economically disadvantaged people in Buffalo. Most

the revitalization of Buffalo.

people whom WEDI has helped have been newcomers

WEDI ACHIEVES ITS MISSION THROUGH THREE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Economic Development provides

Through after-school education

Community Development

microloans, financial coaching,

programs, WEDI strives to

provides business incubation

and business mentorship to

support English-language

and commercial kitchen space at

those who are unfairly impeded

learners (ELL) to acquire

the West Side Bazaar and at The

from participating in the

comprehension and fluency to

Kitchen @ the Market.

entrepreneurial ecosystem.

attain parity with native Englishspeaking peers.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CREATING OPPORTUNITY, COMMITTED TO SUCCESS 2018 has been a year of change for the Economic Development program.

It was a light year for lending because the loan procedures were overhauled.

The new procedures, implemented at the end of 2018, are designed to make it simpler for entrepreneurs and business owners to access small amounts of capital. This approach better fits the needs of WEDI clients, and makes the loan application process much faster. We look forward to continuing this impactful work in 2019.

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BY THE NUMBERS Total amount of loans disbursed in 2018

$100,000 Amount lent for every one job created or retained

$1,695

Number of jobs created or retained in 2018

59 ALL LOANS IN 2018 WENT TO MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

Genga Ponnampalam, founder of Go Veggies, works to bring hearty and fresh veggie fare to your kitchen table. Helping this dream become a reality, Go Veggies has worked with WEDI for many years.

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FINANCIAL EDUCATION

WEDI hosts monthly free community workshops along with community partners and generous volunteers. The image above was captured from the workshop on how to plan for filing taxes for a small business.

Number of entrepreneurs WEDI served through one-on-one technical assistance

47%

That is a increase over 2017.

350

82%

of those helped were racial or ethnic minorities

49%

of those helped were women

89%

of those helped were low-income 9

WEDI co-hosted with Excelsior Growth Fund and Jumpstart Inc., of Cleveland, the first ever “Buffalo Pitch Competition� for microenterprises in Buffalo.

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winners went home with cash prizes to grow their businesses

90%

of the winners were minority or women owned businesses

STREAMLINING FINANCIAL ACCESS WEDI also joined Launch NY, PathStone Enterprise Center, and Excelsior Growth Fund to streamline the process for business owners and entrepreneurs to find and apply for financing or investments in Buffalo and the Western NY region.

That involved creating a platform, Upstate Capital Connect, to assess applicants' needs/goals and direct them to the best suited capital provider.

To learn more, go to www.capitalconnectny.org.

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EDUCATION

LAUNCHING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW WEDI’s Education programs had a busy year in 2018.

In addition to ENERGY and FLY having excellent programs, WEDI expanded its educational efforts into high school, with two new programs: Girls Club and Launch.

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Summer FLY students about to deliver their hand-painted garbage cans to businesses on Grant St.

BY THE NUMBERS STUDENTS SERVED

STUDENT SATISFACTION

139

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS STUDENTS ARE FROM

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100%

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES STUDENTS ORIGINATE FROM

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NUMBER OF LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY STUDENTS

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS ENERGY

90%

of students improved their reading ability by over 1 year

100% 87% 94%

of students proceeded to the next grade level

of students improved in oral and social skills and confidence

of students improved academic performance

FLY

76% 96% 90%

of students improved their GPA

of students proceeded to the next grade level

of students improved social, behavioral, and emotional health

96%

of students scored satisfactory on BPS attendance

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FLY girls and Saturday Academy Girls Club at a mentoring panel coordinated by WNY Women’s Foundation

SUMMER PROGRAM

Since the end of the 2018 school year, WEDI’s Education program has implemented a six-week summer program in partnership with West Side Community Services and Say Yes! Buffalo. During this time, both programs completed Mayor Byron Brown’s Summer Reading Challenge, planted and harvested their own gardens, utilized 13 community resources, and worked closely with the West Side Bazaar to learn how to cook different cultural dishes.

FLY Students working with Zelalem Gemmeda from the West Side Bazaar

ENERGY students thriving with a 1:1 mentor-student ratio

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GROWING INTO THE FUTURE Before the end of the summer, WEDI’s Education program also expanded into two additional programs at Lafayette International Community School: Saturday Academy Girls Club and Launch.

BY THE END OF 2018:

92%

100%

of students in all four education programs - ENERGY, FLY, Girls Club and Launch maintained daily attendance

of Launch students received free WIFI for the next four years

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100%

female students received “fem-ergency” kits and education on selfesteem, bullying, and body changes

of FLY and Launch students completed the RebuildIT program implemented by Mission Ignite and received a computer for their homes

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The newly renovated space at the Westminster Presbyterian Church

Launch students on their way to see a FLY performance with Buffalo String Works 16

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

GROWING FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND BUSINESSES 2018 was a banner year for the Community Development Department at WEDI. From West Side Bazaar vendors competing in entrepreneurial contests, to WEDI managing the commercial kitchen at the Broadway Market, to vendors graduating from the Bazaar, our clients are making progress and so are we!

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Zelalem Gemmeda, chef and owner of Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine, placed as a finalist for Facebook and 43North’s Ignite Buffalo competition.

Gysma Kueny, of Gysma’s African Style, and Raine Manuel, of Zigma Naturals, were also selected to give pitches but did not advance to the finals.

Zelalem advanced to the final 25, and was awarded a $25,000 prize to help in expanding her business!

WEDI has been selected by the City of Buffalo and the Friends of the Broadway Market to manage the new Kitchen @ the Market, a licensed commercial kitchen focused on

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low-income food entrepreneurs.

We are expecting this to open in July of 2019, and have hired Sarah Mast as the Kitchen @ the Market Assistant.

2018 WEST SIDE BAZAAR GRADUATES

Boualivone Serixay, the owner of Gourmet Lao Foods, also took the jump into opening her own restaurant in December of 2018. The new Gourmet Lao is now open at 643 Grant Street, in the Campus Walk building by the Grant Street entrance to Buffalo State College.

The expanded menu offers some of Vone’s native Lao cuisine, along with Southeast Asian standard fare like Pad Thai. Gourmet Lao received rave reviews from Andrew Galerneau in The Buffalo News. The restaurant is also on DoorDash if take out is more your speed!

Khaing Moe Naing, a longtime West Side Bazaar tenant, has moved out and opened a new office at 271 Ontario Street in Riverside.

Rangoon Income Tax will continue to serve the refugee community in Riverside, Black Rock, and the West Side in preparing tax returns and purchasing homes.

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FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIPS As part of a grant from the United Way of Buffalo, Erie County, United States Department of Agriculture, and the General Mills Foundation, WEDI will participate in a number of local food systems initiatives, aimed at strengthening ties between various points in local food systems. The West Side Bazaar will become a selling point for the Somali Bantu Farm in East Aurora, which grows culturally relevant crops and flowers. The Food Lab at the University @ Buffalo is assisting with food trace work to inform our team about current sourcing practices.

Eventually, this project will expand in scope to study the effects of food waste and reuse.

The partnership with the City of Buffalo and Broadway Market will expand

entrepreneurial opportunities for caterers, food trucks, and small food producers or manufacturers. Additionally, some West Side Bazaar vendors are reaching out to local community gardens in the Grassroots Gardens of WNY network to learn more about growing fresh herbs and vegetables.

MEDIA COVERAGE IS UP! Finally, 2018 was a big year for the West Side Bazaar on the national stage. We were referenced in two articles in the New York Times - one on spending a weekend in Buffalo and another on a general visit to Buffalo, which featured Nadin, Gysma, and Zelalem. We also found our way into the Washington Post, a number of food publications and magazines,

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and even newspapers in Brazil and South Korea! As a result of this, we’ve begun building relationships and doing some small consulting for organizations around the country - from Salt Lake City to Maryland and our neighbors in Syracuse. Our model has become an inspiration to organizations around the country hoping to do similar work.

SUCCESS STORIES runs the restaurant with his wife Naima Tesfu, has plans to add an ice cream stand during the summer, and to hire some help.

“I will hire a waitress who can wear traditional clothing while serving,” he said, “and a cook and a kitchen helper.”

WEDI is helping Abadidu strengthen his credit so that he can secure larger loans for the business upgrade. He has built the restaurant almost from scratch since buying an abandoned building in 2014 and spending three years remodeling it into the restaurant and store. All of that was done without loans.

ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT SEES GROWTH AHEAD Lucy East African Cuisine has a lovely location on the edge of Riverside Park on Tonawanda Street. The restaurant has a small store at the front, a traditional Ethiopian seating area and a conventional area with tables and chairs.

The owner, Ibrahim Abadidu, who

Abadidu and his wife, operated Lucy Ethiopian at the corner of Grant Street and Amherst Street for four years, building a customer base by serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Abadidu wants to return to that schedule at the new restaurant.

Opening a new restaurant is a difficult undertaking. “It’s not easy to stay in business. I run it day by day, and I invest what I make back into the restaurant,” he said. But having his own building is better than renting, he said.

“Some days I couldn’t open in the old location because the pipes froze,” he said.

Now the future is bright, with plans to expand service and menu offerings.

“I want to take the next step,” he said.

“WEDI is a bridge. We can grow together.”

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FOLLOWING HIS DREAM TO GROW When Abdikidir Mwerba arrived in Buffalo in 2004, he immediately started planning to open a small store. He had been a shop keeper in Somalia, so he knew about the hard work and long hours of a small retailer.

Two years later he bought a small building on Grant Street, near Military Road, and sold everything from food to clothing and housewares. He called it Yasin African Market. Soon after, he bought the building next door and opened Family Team Discount Novelties.

That second store stretched his resources, so he reached out to WEDI for a hand. A 22

small loan helped him regain stability, and his stores thrived. “WEDI was very helpful,” said Mwerba, who goes by the name Abdi.

Last year, Abdi bought the building across the street from his businesses and opened a new store. It is twice as large as his first stores, and he has expanded his inventory.

The store is filled with colorful gowns and clothing on one side, rugs in the center and kitchen supplies on the other side.

“We just started here,” he said. “People are getting to know about the new store. I have been in business for 15 years, so people know me, and I am meeting new ones.”

Abdi said he recommends WEDI to other business owners, and may reach out to WEDI again in the future.

“We have a saying: the healthier you are, the bigger you dream to grow,” he said.

BUSINESS COUNSELORS AND ‘CHEERLEADERS’ HELPED HER LAUNCH Denise Serio is college educated, has been in the marketing business for many years and has plenty of connections in the local public relations community. But she couldn’t get a loan to start her own business.

“I was taking a class about opening a business, and WEDI was mentioned as a place where entrepreneurs could get loans,” she recalls. “I followed through, and it turned out to be very fortunate.”

Today, Serio owns 50/50 Marketing Partners.

She has a stable list of clients and uses freelancers to handle graphics, web issues and other marketing needs. That use of freelancers, in addition to freeing her from the HR responsibilities of running a business, allows Serio to spread work around among her colleagues.

Serio got assistance from WEDI with drafting her business plan, which helped to clarify her goals and focus on factors she had not considered.

“I like to be able to give work to as many local freelancers, designers and printers as I can.

One of the things I love doing is calling a freelancer and asking ‘do you want to make $100?’

“WEDI asked what assets I had. I didn’t think I had any, but I went home and said ‘I have a desk, a computer.’ Recognizing those as assets made me feel over the moon.”

Serio continues to get assistance from WEDI, including finding mentors to help with Quickbooks and with getting Woman Business Enterprise certification.

The business counselors at WEDI “were like cheerleaders,” Serio said. “They were always smiling, and that kept me pumped and motivated.”

“WEDI really cares about their clients being successful,” she said. “The tagline ‘Your success is our business’ is true. It’s the passion. It’s what these people care about doing.”

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TEACHERS WONDERED HOW STUDENTS IMPROVED SO MUCH Teachers at the Waterfront School in Buffalo saw improvements in the work of Paul, Elodie and Christine Kitungano. Their English was better and their homework was done regularly and well. But the students were not attending after-school classes at the school, so their teachers wondered how they were improving so much.

The siblings were attending the ENERGY program classes at Westminster Presbyterian Church. And that made a big difference in their school work.

“When I went to a parents meeting, I asked how they were doing in school, and they said they were all doing very well,” said Donald Kitungano, their father. “I told them about the ENERGY program, and one of the teachers said she was wondering how they were growing so well.”

Attending the three-day-a-week program for English language learners for three years helped build a strong base for the siblings to begin their academic careers. Paul now attends 24

McKinley High School, Elodi is at Park School and Christine is at the Makowski School.

“They improved their English and they got help with their homework,” Donald said. “It helped a lot.”

Originally from Congo, Donald spent nine years in a refugee camp in Tanzania before being resettled in Buffalo by the United Nations. A nurse by training, he now works as a home health aide.

The ENERGY program started at Westminster in 1998 for youth in grades 1 to 6 on Buffalo’s West Side. Its name, ENERGY, reflects the program’s values: Education, Nurture, Encouragement, Readiness, and Guidance for Youth. Over the years, ENERGY has evolved into a robust, academically empowering space powered by a strong team of volunteers. Each year, 45 immigrant, refugee, and other English language learning children work to develop English language skills, artistic ability, self-confidence, and cultural awareness.

“I would recommend it for anybody,” Donald said. “They learn a lot.”

2018 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION December 31,

2018

2017

2018 Revenue

Assets: $

Cash*

1,279,023

$

990,570

Accounts Receivable (Loans & Rent)

275,634

348,948

Contributions & Government Grants

371,507

328,919

Other Current Assets (Prepaid Expenses)

13,172

27,689

Fixed Assets

84,757

47,997

Total Assets

$

2,024,093

$

1,744,123

$

43,497

$

23,872

Liabilities and Net Assets: Accounts Payable & Accrued Expenses Deferred Revenue

221,030

105,298

Long-term Debt

576,764

755,219

Total Liabilities

841,291

884,389

Without Donor Restrictions

577,159

442,032

With Donor Restrictions

605,643

417,702

Net Assets:

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$

2,024,093

$

1,744,123

*$1,275,143 of cash and current assets is restricted as loan collateral and by donor guidelines

2018 Expenses

SUMMARY OF REVENUES & EXPENSES December 31,

2018

2017

Revenue: Grants & Donations

$

1,190,858

$

943,333

119,561

102,003

Events

83,754

106,916

Other

61,415

55,036

Rent

Total

$

1,455,588

$

1,207,288

$

915,784

$

699,633

Expenses: Program Service General & Administrative Development & Fundraising Total Change In Net Assets

$

145,808

74,021

70,928

92,232

1,132,520

865,886

323,068

$

341,402

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WE COULDN’T DO IT ALONE We could not provide the depth and breadth of services to those we serve without the generous investment and support of our giving community. The following partners gave financial donations in support of our mission.

CORPORATE DONORS Baillie Lumber Co. Canisius College Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) Good Neighbors Credit Union Greenleaf & Company HealthNow Karibu Community Newspaper Network for Good Northwest Bank Phillips Lytle LLP Rich Products Corporation Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp.

Thoughtful Plan UBS Financial Services, Inc. Walsh Duffield Cos., Inc. Wegmans Westside Value Redemption

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

GIFTS OF $5,000-$10,000 Donald Dudley Lucinda N. Dudley Gerald Kelly Jock & Betsy Mitchell

GIFTS OF $1,000-$4,999 E.J. & Martha Burke Emily Oaks Brad & Bonnie Smith Reed & Carolyn Stevens 26

Robert Bojdak & Sarah Williams Linda Wrobel Steve Zenger

GIFTS OF $500-$999

Kathleen Bezek Barbara Billings Tim Bissell Mary Jane Buck Anthony & Sarah Duddy Mindy Elniski Bill & Molly Gray Chris Hawley Anna Ireland Stephanie & Brad Kroth Chris & Debbie LaMendola Jack & John McGrath Audrey Meyers Richard & Tamara Mugel John & Jane Perry Erich & Mimi Steadman Tom & Carolyn Warszawski

GIFTS OF $100-$499

Alexandra Anillo David Reading & Stephanie Argentine Linda Bayliss Douglas Bean Ellen Bean Nancy Berger Sherrie Bernat Ben Bissell Richard & Kate Braen

Laurel & Douglas Braun Sharon Brautigam Dot Brown Marcia Buhl & David Carstensen Linda Casper Alan Dewart & Carolyn Clark Fred & Val Cooley Herb Courtney David Cress Stephanie Crockatt Sarah Cullen-Laux Timothy Curtiss Eillen Donahue Christopher Hough & Donna Estrich Douglas Fabian Bill & Concetta Ferguson Janet & William Ganley Robert & Caterine Gatewood Joseph A. Granata Thomas & Carol Greetham Mary H. Gresham Nancy & Susan Gurney Marc Gutierrez Maureen Hanagan Peter Herman Ray Herman Lucinda Ingalls Edwin Jackson Jane Jacobson Melanie Jaskolka Linda & Kenneth Kahn Robert Kalb Charles Von Simson & Erin Kelly Michael R. Kenline Gary Kenline Timothy & Ellen Kennedy Ellen Kongphet Andrea Kuettel Kyle Leikam Rosalyn Lindner James Mahoney Garrett Martin Charles Massey Olivia McCarthy Susan McCartney John McClive Brendan & Michele Mehaffy John & Rebecca Montague

Paul Murphy David Murphy-Longhini Philip & Donna Nidwander Timothy Noble Linda & Walter Pacer Lansing & Pamela Pollock David & Molly Quackenbush Sean Ryan Tony Sabuta Steven Sams Audrey Ross Atley Sanders Christopher Sansone Bev Schaefer Lawrence Van Heusen & Robert Scharf Roger Mark Seifert Jean-Jacques Sibomana Phillips Stevens Jr. Vinod Suchak Cynthia Thomason Hubert & Lois Van Tol Deborah Erwin & David Weeks Bill Weisbeck Thomas Wendt James Wieland Richard & Kathryn Wojciechowski Barbara Wolff-Reichert Jennifer Wood Karin Yaw Terri Zelasko

GIFTS UP TO $100

Michael & Deirdre Banscher Rachael Becker Sawrie Becker Betsy R. Biggar Rebecca Butler Mary Jane Hayes & Robert Ciesielski John Craik Adam Croglia David DeBoy Allison DeHonney Connie Ervin Jennifer Goetz Charles B. Gordon Chris & Camie Greene Joan Gruen Mark Hall 27

Brian Hammer Alexander & Allan Hayes Nina Heard Diane Hoener Colleen Hohman Fran Holmes Donald Ingalls Nancy Irwin Marge Keller Navagh Kelly Rebecca Laczkowski Amanda Licata Debbie Lombardo Peter V. McNally Marcelle A. Mostert Beth O'Keefe Linda Ray Andrew Reading Laurie Riso Steven Salcedo Louise Sano Jennifer Schlosser Donald & Jessica Snyder Carolyn M. Sperl Michael Stefura Michael Taylor Lynette D. Thornton Nancy Trimble Dr. Wolf & Elisabeth Weber Jonathan Willcox

First Niagara Foundation James H. Cummings Foundation, Inc. Jericho Road Community Health Center Josephine Goodyear Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Inc. Junior League of Buffalo Kelly for Kids Foundation KeyBank Business Boost & Build, Powered by JumpStart Margaret L. Wendt Foundation M&T Charitable Foundation New York State Child and Adult Food Program New York State Community Development Financial Institution Northwest Charitable Foundation, Inc. NY Business Development Corporation NYS Capital Access Program NYS ESD Minority and Women Revolving Loan Trust Fund Office of New Americans Office of Refugee Resettlement Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Silicon Valley Community Foundation Simple Gifts Fund Small Business Administration Summer Cornell High Roads Fellowship Terra Science and Education, Inc. The Buffalo Sabres Foundation The Keybank Foundation The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc AmeriCorps ABLE Program The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. - Serve AARP Foundation New York VISTA Arts Services Initiative United States Department of Agriculture Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. University at Buffalo Social Impact Fellows Buffalo Main Street Initiative Program US Treasury CDFI Fund Child and Adult Care Food Program United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Children's Foundation of Erie County Volunteer Lawyers Project Citizens Bank Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Watson Billings Family Foundation Money Westminster Presbyterian Church Community Connections of NY, Inc. WNY Women's Foundation Cullen Foundation Building the UpStart NY Advantage These donations reflect giving from January 1 to December Empire State Development 31, 2018. We strive to recognize all of our supporters. If we Erie County Primetime have omitted any, please contact us.

Erie County Youth Development Program

GRANTS & FOUNDATION SUPPORT

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WORKING TOGETHER Volunteers have been the bedrock of WEDI’s work from 2006 to today. With the support and dedication to provide mentorship and capacity building assistance, volunteers have consistently helped us carry out our programs. They draw on their own life experiences providing mentorship and shaping, guiding, and encouraging independence, knowledge, and creativity.

They offer patience and genuine devotion, making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve and the community at large.

They offer dedication and commitment to building capacity and strengthening our various programs, committees, and processes.

Volunteers are an essential part of the WEDI team.

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TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE Our goal is to provide all people who walks through our doors with the opportunity to transform their lives. You can ignite change, fight poverty, and empower our clients to realize their potential and pursue their dreams.

VISIT US

CONTRIBUTE

Stop by our office, visit our programs, or enjoy a meal at the Bazaar.

Your support makes our work possible. Please join us in strengthening our community.

VOLUNTEER

BECOME A CORPORATE PARTNER

We are always looking for mentors to work directly with our clients and students to make a lasting impact in their lives.

We welcome corporate support and will work to find the best opportunity for your organization.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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CURRENT WEDI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tom Warszawski Chair

Jonathan Willcox Treasurer

Stephen Zenger Vice Chair

Emily Oaks Secretary

Krista Schwartzott Assistant Secretary

Cameron Airhart Joann Belliotti Herbert Courtney Luke Donigan Zelalem Gemmeda Melanie Jaskolka

Michael Kenline Michael Knapp Catherine March Louise Sano Melissa Woods

WEDI THANKS THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS WHO STEPPED DOWN IN 2018: John Bauda David Brand Donald Dudley

Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc. 436 Grant Street | Buffalo, NY 14213 (716) 393-4088 | wedibuffalo.org

Mary Gresham Jane Jacobson

West Side Bazaar 25 Grant Street | Buffalo, NY 14213 (716) 464-6389 | westsidebazaar.com

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THE FACES OF WEDI