United Way launches annual campaign & celebrates community champions

Event marks kickoff of ‘Find Your Way’ giving campaign

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County launched its 2023 giving campaign, “Find Your Way,” with a press conference featuring United Way’s President and CEO Trina Burruss, Board Chair the Rev. Rachelle Sat’chell Robinson, and United Way Chief Development Officer Rema Hanash. Together, they announced the 2023 annual campaign goal: $10 million.

“That number, $10 million, is more than just a goal,” Burruss said. “It’s a call to purposeful action. It’s a challenge to our entire community to recognize and amplify the power we have together to make meaningful change in the community where we work and live. It’s a rallying cry for each of us to do our part to move the needle for the 40% of Erie County living in financial hardship. It’s an invitation to ‘Find Your Way’ at United Way.”

A press release noted, “Nine winners were presented with United Way Community Champions Awards for their exceptional collaboration and commitment to creating a community where everyone can access a quality education, build economic mobility and live a healthy life.” This year’s award recipients include:

√ Evans Bank, Forging Unlikely Partnerships

√ National Grid, Building New Solutions to Old Problems

√ M&T Bank, Mobilizing Resources

√ Wegmans, Inspiring Our Community to Live United

√ BPS 355 The New Buffalo School of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management, Eugene T. Reveille Cup

√ Hamburg Central School District, Suburban Schools Champion

√ The Buffalo Central Labor Council, Labor Champion

√ Brielyn Bell and Jamie Ferullo, 2022 Volunteers of the Year

More than 24,000 donors and over 500 workplaces supported United Way’s annual campaign last year, which raised over $9.1 million.

The press release stated, “Those funds translate into real action – supporting families through community crises, improving the health of moms and babies, driving education, helping workers stay on track, and build assets for the future. At every stage of life, United Way is closing gaps and opening opportunities for members of our community to thrive.”

Learn more about the “Find Your Way” campaign and give online at uwbec.org/impact.

From left: United Way of Buffalo & Erie County President and CEO Trina Burruss with United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Chief Development Officer Rema Hanash. (Submitted)