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An artist's rendering of the Buffalo City Mission's new Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise. (Image courtesy of the agency/19 IDEAS)
An artist's rendering of the Buffalo City Mission's new Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise. (Image courtesy of the agency/19 IDEAS)

Russ gives again: Russell J. Salvatore Foundation donates an additional $200,000 to Buffalo City Mission

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Wed, Aug 5th 2020 09:40 am

Donation will help complete Russell J. Salvatore Dining Room within City Mission’s new Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise; commitment marks cumulative $450,000 donated by foundation

The Russell J. Salvatore Foundation announced a $200,000 commitment to help complete the dining room in the Buffalo City Mission’s new Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise. The new room will be named the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Room, with a tag line that states, “Be our guest and let the City Mission do the rest.”

With this commitment, the foundation has donated a total of $450,000 to the project.

“The Buffalo City Mission is humbled by Russell J. Salvatore Foundation’s generosity, and for their unwavering belief in our work,” said Stuart Harper, CEO and executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “Our new dining room will be a gathering place of togetherness, where our residents can make meaningful connections with each other. The foundation’s gift will help ensure that these shared experiences are open to all, as they continue their journey to restoration and renewal.”

“It is our honor and privilege to support the Buffalo City Mission’s important work for the homeless in our region,” said Salvatore, founder of the Russell J. Salvatore Foundation. “As a business owner and proud member of this community, I work hard to ensure that every guest is well cared for. On behalf of the foundation, we are proud to support the City Mission in their important work. This is about doing what you love, and loving who you serve.”

The new dining room will serve as an important communal hub in the City Mission’s new Community Center, representing a place where the region’s homeless can share meals and heal together on their road to recovery.

“The generosity shown by Russ Salvatore and his foundation is extraordinary,” said Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “Today’s gift is an inspirational example of the power this community has to make positive change for those who need it most. As we close the gap on our target fundraising goal for this new center, we are deeply grateful to Russ and his team for helping us to advance our work for years to come.”

Scheduled to open soon, the 75,000-square-foot flagship center will provide preventative services on the front end to decrease the percentage of homelessness year-over-year for those who are on the brink of homelessness. It will also deliver more complete care to individuals who already experience homelessness. Notable features will include space for social service agencies, case management, mental health services, medical care, job training, basic family services, legal services, food and clothing.

The building is part of the City Mission’s vision moving into the next century to provide services that help prevent and decrease homelessness in the community. Today, approximately $14.1 million of a target $15 million has been committed or is in process – all through the City Mission’s “Next Century Capital Campaign.”

There are several ways for the community to help the City Mission finish its capital campaign strong:

√ Purchasing a personalized, engraved brick through the “Pick-a-Brick” campaign, which will help pave a pathway to a new life in front of the new center. To learn more or choose a brick, visit pickabrick.org.

√ Sponsorship and naming rights opportunities for the center’s community intake center, one of the residents’ remaining guest bedrooms, and three transitional housing resident quarters. 

The Next Century Capital Campaign just under $1 million from its goal. To learn more about the campaign or how to donate, visit nextcenturycampaign.org.

The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a nonprofit organization providing preventative, emergency and transitional housing programs to thousands of people who are homeless and impoverished every year. The agency includes a Women and Children’s Shelter (Cornerstone Manor), the Men’s Community Center, and the Dick Road thrift store to serve the Western New York community. For more information, visit buffalocitymission.org or call 716-854-8181. Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCityMission, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CityMission.

The Russell J. Salvatore Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Buffalo a better place to live. Founded by business owner, restauranteur and philanthropist Salvatore, the organization provides support for regional schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations to champion their community impact and individual missions to improve the quality of life in the community.

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