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Nonprofit finalists chosen for Next Generation's 'Pitch 10' competition

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Fri, Apr 21st 2017 05:05 pm

Millennial-focused organizations to compete for grants totaling $10,000

Ten local nonprofit organizations have been chosen to compete for a total of $10,000 in the second "Pitch 10" competition to be held on April 27 at Buffalo RiverWorks.

Next Generation United (NGU), an initiative of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, will host Pitch 10, a competition-style event where the organizations will have a chance to "pitch" their project or idea to the public for a chance to win a grant to advance their work. The first-place winner will be awarded $5,000, and two awards of $2,500 will go to the second- and third-place winners. The competition will focus on organizations that are small, young, or led by or focused on the millennial generation.

 Pitch 10 is the brainchild of Next Generation United as a way to highlight and support young, millennial-focused nonprofit organizations, and as a way to engage a younger generation in philanthropy. Winners are chosen by audience vote, giving participants an opportunity to learn more and support organizations that are making an impact in Western New York.

Family Promise of WNY was the top winner in the first Pitch 10 competition held in November.

The 10 organizations were chosen from 18 that applied for consideration. Those that were chosen to make their pitch are:

•UB Heals - Our mission is to reconnect the homeless population with the health care system of the Greater Buffalo area by establishing trusting relationships with the UB HEALS medical team while also influencing medical education leadership through our foundation at SUNY University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

•Buffalo Architecture Foundation - Buffalo Architecture Foundation is dedicated to inspiring the exploration and appreciation of architecture and how it shapes our lives. BAF's mission is implemented through educational activities for school-aged children and public awareness events engaging citizens of all ages.

•Small Business Legal Clinic - The Small Business Legal Clinic provides free business law services to low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses. Through this work, the clinic supports resident-led economic growth in under-resourced neighborhoods of Buffalo.

•Mason's Mission - Mason's Mission is to build the first true all-inclusive, ADA-approved, wheelchair-accessible playground to service all men women and children with and without disabilities.

•Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals - BULYP advocates and supports the mission of the Buffalo Urban League by training the next generation of leaders.

•Third Estate Ventures - Third Estate Ventures initial programs forgive student debt to increase a community's density and prevent gentrification by brokering a subsidized mortgage product for members of partner, specialized community land trusts.

•International Child Advancement - International Child Advancement is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower orphans and disadvantaged children worldwide through education, vocational training, livelihood provision and mentorship.

•B. Team - B Team Buffalo is a nonprofit organization led by young professionals dedicated to promoting a lasting sense of civic pride in the Greater Buffalo area by creating high-impact signature projects and assisting other organizations with the development and execution of volunteer-driven, Buffalo-focused events.

•YWCA - YWCA Western New York supports over 3,000 women, children and families annually. Programs help women attain self-sufficiency, help teens unlock their potential and build a path to success, help seniors secure safe, affordable housing that keeps them connected to the community, and help children grow in healthy, nurturing and enriched environments.

•Westminster Economic Development Initiative - WEDI empowers economically disadvantaged people in Buffalo. The organization's economic development program provides training and technical assistance tailored for members of Buffalo's diverse, foreign-born population who want to start or expand a business.

Each organization will have three minutes to present their project or idea to a live audience at Buffalo RiverWorks on April 27 beginning at 5 p.m. The winners will be chosen by audience vote via text. The public is invited to attend and can register at https://pitch10.eventbrite.com along with a $20 donation to be used to fund future Pitch 10 events.

In order to have been considered, organizations were required to submit a proposal that offered details on their project as well as an explanation of how the funds would be utilized. Each organization must be, or affiliated with, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization addressing a need in Buffalo or Erie County. They were also required to have one of the following:

Millennial-­led (executive director/board chair must be age 21-35) or a millennial-focused organization and/or benefit a millennial target audience

Incorporated no earlier than July 1, 2010

Have revenues of less than $500,000 annually

Each proposal was scored by a volunteer group of NGU members and the top 10 highest scoring applications qualified to pitch at the event.

The Hunt Foundation, Ingram Micro and Citi are sponsors of Next Generation United.

For more information, visit www.uwbec.org.

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