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Signature Event Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
BlueCross BlueShield of WNY
Platinum Sponsor
M&T Bank
New Era Cap Co.
Crystal Sponsor
Computer Task Group
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
R&P Oak Hill
Susan & John Hoskins
Diamond Sponsor
AJ Baynes Contractors, LTD.
Delaware North Co.
Hodgson Russ LLP
Hudson Advisor Services, Inc.
NOCO
Melissa & James Nowak
Silver Sponsor
Gains Kriner Elliot, LLP
Ellen E. Grant, Ph.D. & William J. Miller
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.
Independent Health
JVL Management Company
Kavinoky Cook LLP
Lougen, Valenti, Bookbinder & Weintraub, LLP
Sally Marks
Patrick P. Lee Foundation
Phillips Lytle
Rich Products Corporation
Saldanha Family
Summer Street Capital Partners
Uniland Development Corporation
Univera Healthcare
Media Sponsor
Buffalo Spree
WBFO
WGRZ - Channel 2
LAMAR Outdoor
2010 What She's Made Of Committee:
Honorary Chairs
Susan and John Hoskins
Chairs
Melissa Nowak
Lisa Walsh
Committee
Carolyn Coppola
Ann E. Evanko
Sue S. Gardner
Ellen E. Grant, Ph.D.
Betsy Harned
Amy Hemenway
Katie Johnson Hoffman
Lindsey Koch
Kathryn Lisandrelli
Dana Marciniak
Caroline Raimy
Anne Saldanha, M.D.
Tricia Semmelhack
Tara Singer-Blumberg
Siobhan Smith
Trina Tardone
Julie Warman
Cathy Whitehead
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| What She's Made of with Cokie Roberts |
 The 2010 "What She's Made Of" Celebration with Emmy-Award winning journalist, Cokie Roberts, was a tremendous success! The event was led by Co-chairs, Melissa Nowak and Lisa Walsh, along with a fabulous committee. In addition, we would also like to thank our Honorary Chairs - Sue and John Hoskins. More than 500 guests gathered at Kleinhans to hear Ms. Roberts, raising more than $140,000 - a 33% increase in revenue from last year! We are extremely grateful to Ms. Roberts, who graciously donated her services and who went above and beyond all of our expectations with her enlightening keynote presentation. She focused on the efficacy of women's funds across the globe and the need to support women and girls in WNY. We would also like to express our gratitude to Jodi Johnston, host of WGRZ Daybreak who was a dynamic emcee for the program.
Lisa Walsh, Cokie Roberts, Brigid Doherty and Melissa Nowak | We would like to thank our Presenting Sponsor BlueCross BlueShield, Platinum Sponsors M&T Bank and New Era Cap Co., Inc., and our Crystal Sponsors CTG, Sue and John Hoskins, R&P Oak Hill and MorganStanley SmithBarney, as well as our many other sponsors and advertisers. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and efforts to make this event a success, including our media and in-kind sponsors, WBFO 88.7, WGRZ Channel 2, Buffalo Spree, Martin Group and Cumbo, Inc.
To see event photos and video, visit our website at www.wnywomensfund.org. |
Structures in Science Students | WNY Women's Fund sponsored for the second year Structures in Science held at the Buffalo Museum of Science. Eighteen rising 5th and 6th grade girls from the Charles Drew Science Magnet School are participating in a unique hands on science program that is a collaboration between Buffalo Public Schools, University at Buffalo and Buffalo Museum of Science.
Denise Luka, Principal for PS 59 Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School explained the goal of the program, "Girls typically shy away from science, but this program gives them the opportunity to get excited about the opportunities in fields related to science and what the future holds," she said. "During activities such as a dissection, some of the girls focused on 'cutting open the body or chopping off of the legs,' but other girls went beyond the 'wow' factor and were engaged in learning about the functionality of the organs and the inner workings of the frog. This year it has been interesting to watch the varying levels of proficiency of the girls," said Luka.
One participant, Cemone Winfrey shared that her favorite program experience was visiting the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research headquartered at the University at Buffalo. "We saw how the strings made the building shake like there was an earthquake," said eleven year-old Winfrey. "And I learned to unplug electrical things during a storm because the electricity can start a fire". When asked if she had any thoughts about a future career in science, Winfrey joked, "I think I'll become a mad scientist." Then off she went to join the rest of her group who were getting ready to launch rockets that they had built in their previous class. |
On July 19th, Executive Director Brigid Doherty presented the findings in the Pathways to Progress report (specifically, the " Barbara" Pathway - an Aspiring Leader, one of 99,000 working professional women in WNY) to the Board of the WNY Chapter of the Womens Bar Association.
This continues the mission of the WNYWF to get the message out about the state of women in WNY, in order to motivate others to help us seek change. |
| Save the Date - Fall in Fashion |
 Please join your friends at the WNYWF, and many other fine charitable women, at the 7th Annual Fall in Fashion Luncheon, to be held on Friday, November 5th at The Buffalo Club.
This year's Fall in Fashion Chairs are Alison Keane, Michele Lee, and Kristin Somers.
Please feel free to contact Alison at alison@keane-house.com for further information or to be added to the mailing list. |
| People Are Talking About... |
Courtesy of The Atlantic - John Ritter | The Atlantic ran an interesting article in their July/August 2010 issue, entitled The End of Men. It's a fascinating article that's got people talking:
"Earlier this year, women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history. Most managers are now women too. And for every two men who get a college degree this year, three women will do the same. For years, women's progress has been cast as a struggle for equality. But what if equality isn't the end point? What if modern, postindustrial society is simply better suited to women? A report on the unprecedented role reversal now under way- and its vast cultural consequences."
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| WNY Women's Fund in the News |
 Buffalo Spree ran a clever interview with Cokie Roberts in their July-August 2010 issue, exploring her views on a number of topics, including her dedication to women's funds, the role of womens' philanthropy, and her groundbreaking success as a journalist. She also explored her views on the current state of politics and what she sees as opportunities for the future.
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| Pathways to Progress: Mrs. Williams |
 This month we will introduce you to Mrs. Williams. She is among thousands of seniors who want to stay as healthy and independent as possible, no matter what their age or degree of frailty.
The myriad of health challenges faced by seniors, especially frail elders age 85+, limited independence, mobility and social connections are the fundamental barriers to a high quality of life for older residents. Four out of five senior women in the region say they are concerned about their own health, according to the Four Seasons Aging Survey of Erie County seniors, conducted by the University at Buffalo in 2008. Though in some ways, a decline in health is unavoidable as we age, many chronic conditions are manageable and others wholly preventable, making their prevalence in the region a critical indicator of how well WNY is helping senior women age well.
Roadblocks to Staying Healthy & Connected:
Among the most significant, and avoidable, health challenges faced by senior women in WNY are serious falls. The No. 1 leading cause of injury among seniors, serious falls place close to 2,000 senior women in the hospital every year
Hip fractures, an often debilitating injury, are a common result of such falls; one in 10 serious falls also results in a traumatic brain injury
It is also common for seniors to experience a great deal of anxiety related to a fear of falling, in many cases leading them to avoid going outside, especially in the winter months
Roadblocks to Living Independently & Aging in Place:
Aging in place is nearly a universal desire as people age. More than the comfort and safety of one's own home or community, aging in place fosters stronger social connections and civic engagement
A recent analysis of the region's independent living alternatives by the Community Health Foundation of Western & Central New York found that approximately 2,500 of those residing in the region's 52 nursing homes are not in need of this level of care. Yet, In WNY, seniors are more likely to end up in a nursing home than seniors across the state and nation
They remain due to a lack of affordable housing alternatives for those with needs as basic as wheelchair access and help with toileting, cooking and managing chronic conditions. Affordability is of paramount importance. One in 10 senior women in WNY lives in poverty
The good news is that there are ways that these roadblocks can be removed, including several important leverage points:
Leverage Point #1: Shift culture to embrace aging and tap the potential of growing numbers of seniors
Leverage Point #2: Build health system capacity for an aging population, including geriatric training and preventive care
Leverage Point #3: Develop community-based, person-centered independent living options for frail seniors
Leverage Point #4: Strengthen social connections for seniors through mobility supports
An aging population certainly presents challenges with regard to health care, housing, poverty, transportation and public safety, from the local to federal level. But the region's older citizens also have tremendous potential to drive economic growth, inspire and teach youth, engage in civic debate and support our communities as volunteers. Communities fail to tap this potential when the needs and perspectives of seniors aren't included in policy decisions.
What if: WNY reduced serious falls among seniors by 50%?
THERE WOULD BE NEARLY 2,000 FEWER FALLS and hospitalizations every year for seniors ages 65+.
WE WOULD SAVE ABOUT 30 LIVES EVERY YEAR. 2,000 seniors would enjoy a longer life expectancy, spend less of their remaining life in a nursing home and avoid permanent disabilities.
WNY would save more than $150 million in health care costs, including $32 million in hospital costs each year and $120 million associated with follow-up physical therapy, rehab, and in-home health care services for injuries as serious as a broken hip.
For every senior that does not end up in a nursing home, the region would save over $100,00 a year -- for 2,000 seniors, that's $200 million a year mostly in public sector savings.
Pathways to Progress is an initiative of the WNY Women's Fund, and was developed and produced by the University at Buffalo Regional Institute. |
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Please feel free to contact us to find out more about our programs.
WNY Women's Fund
742 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
(716) 887-2777
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