named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Building Skills Grade 5
12-lesson, classroom-based social development curriculum for 5th grade students focusing on decision-making, self-control, drug resistance, and healthy relationships; developed by WNY United and recognized as a NY State Promising Program
Environmental Prevention Program
Comprehensive strategy integrating media campaigns, enforcement collaboration, and policy advocacy to create community-wide substance abuse prevention; includes dedicated staff for media, enforcement, and policy components
School-Based Prevention Partnerships
Long-term partnerships with school districts to deliver evidence-based curricula such as Project ALERT and Botvin’s LifeSkills Training, tailored to individual school needs and evaluated annually
WRARC (Western Regional Addiction Response Coalition)
State-funded resource center providing training, technical assistance, and funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery services across five Western NY counties
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Impaired Driving Prevention and Education 1 activity
- Community mobilization and environmental prevention strategiesImplements comprehensive environmental prevention strategies across Erie County reaching over 100,000 individuals annually, including underage drinking campaigns, media outreach, policy change initiatives, drug displays, TIPS training for servers, and enforcement collaborations. These efforts are supported by dedicated specialists and funded by grants such as the SOR Grant, with partnerships including the Erie County Sheriff's Office and Consumers Beverages (e.g., “Not A Minor Problem” campaign).
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Funding for community awareness and outreach projectsFunds over 70 community awareness projects and nearly 20 high-risk outreach efforts across five counties to expand the reach of substance abuse prevention initiatives.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Program evaluation and needs assessment researchConducts annual evaluations of all prevention programs for effectiveness and productivity, including longitudinal analysis showing statistically significant improvements in social skills among participants. Also performs annual risk assessments in partner schools and communities to guide program targeting and strategy development.
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Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Education 1 activity
- School-based substance abuse prevention programsDelivers evidence-based prevention curricula such as Too Good for Drugs, Too Good for Violence, Project ALERT, and Botvin’s LifeSkills Training to approximately 10,000 high-risk students annually in Western New York public school districts, including Buffalo Public Schools and suburban districts like Hamburg, Maryvale, Lake Shore, and Frontier. Programs focus on building social-emotional skills, reducing risk factors like academic failure and community disorganization, and improving student behavior through classroom instruction, mentoring, and recognition activities.
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Substance Use Information and Referral Services 1 activity
- Youth nicotine addiction support programOperates DropTheVape, a free texting program designed to help teens overcome nicotine addiction, providing direct behavioral health support tailored to youth.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.41M
Contributions & grants$1.41M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.42M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.07M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$528K
Cash$306K
Investments$0
Liabilities$355K
Net assets$173K
Liquid reserves2.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Anzalone | Executive Director | 40 | $91K |
board members · 8
- Andrew Neyman — Board Treasurer
- Brian Chella — Director
- Carrie Meyer — Director
- Daniel Sarzynski — Director
- James O'Connor — Board Secretary
- Mari Irwin — Director
- Steve Smith — Director
- Ty Holt — Board President
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Beth Anzalone Partner — Board contact for recruitment inquiries.
- Buffalo Public Elementary buildings Partner — Partner schools receiving comprehensive prevention services through a formal agreement
- Buffalo Public School District Partner — School district partner in substance abuse prevention programming
- Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Longstanding school district partner in delivering prevention services.
- Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Partner school district receiving the Too Good for Drugs program
- Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Partner school district where the Building Skills Grade 5 program was delivered.
- Businesses Partner — Collaborates with businesses to address problems related to alcohol and drug abuse through prevention programs.
- Consumers Beverages Partner — Partnered with WNY United and the Erie County Sheriff's Office on the "Not A Minor Problem" campaign to prevent underage drinking.
- Dr. Antonio Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence #18 Partner — Partner school supporting student leadership and holistic development.
- Erie County Sheriff's Office Partner — Collaborates on environmental strategies to prevent substance abuse, including enforcement and community education initiatives.
- Erie County Sheriff's Office Partner — Collaborates with Deputy Dan Wood as a special liaison for community prevention efforts.
- Erie County Sheriff's Office Partner — Collaborates with WNY United and Consumers Beverages on the "Not A Minor Problem" campaign to prevent underage drinking.
- Frontier Central School District Partner — Longstanding school district partner in delivering prevention services.
- Frontier Central School District Partner — School district partner in substance abuse prevention programming
- Frontier School District Partner — Partner school district receiving comprehensive prevention services through a formal agreement
- Hamburg Central School District Partner — School district partner in substance abuse prevention programming
- Hamburg School District Partner — Partner school district receiving comprehensive prevention services through a formal agreement
- Lake Shore Central School District Partner — School district partner in substance abuse prevention programming
- Lake Shore School District Partner — Longstanding school district partner in delivering prevention services.
- Lake Shore School District Partner — Partner school district receiving comprehensive prevention services through a formal agreement
- Maryvale School District Partner — Partner school district receiving comprehensive prevention services through a formal agreement
- Maryvale Union Free School District Partner — School district partner in substance abuse prevention programming
- Mendez Foundation Partner — Partnership to deliver the Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence programs.
- NY State Office of Addiction Services & Supports Government — Primary state funder and grant partner supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
- Schools Partner — Partners with schools to implement substance abuse prevention initiatives.
- Ty Holt-Smith Partner — Board contact for recruitment inquiries.
- Waterfront Elementary #95 Partner — Partner school receiving integrated academic and social supports.
- communities Partner — Long-term partner entities engaged in comprehensive prevention initiatives
- high-risk schools Partner — Long-term partner organizations receiving prevention services
- selected elementary and middle schools Partner — Provides prevention services under signed partnership agreements with schools.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Based Prevention with Multi-Sector Engagementmethodology: community-based preventionBy mobilizing diverse stakeholders through community-based initiatives and cross-sector partnerships, we create sustained, culturally relevant prevention efforts that reduce substance abuse because collective ownership and coordinated action strengthen protective factors and shift community norms.
- Environmental Prevention to Shift Community Normsmethodology: evidence-based environmental preventionBy implementing evidence-based environmental strategies—such as policy advocacy, media campaigns, and point-of-sale interventions—we reduce access to substances and discourage use because changing structural conditions and social norms lowers the acceptability and availability of drugs and alcohol.
- Risk and Protective Factors Frameworkmethodology: risk_and_protective_factors_frameworkBy systematically reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors—through SEL, character education, and life skills curricula—we prevent substance abuse and problem behaviors because youth resilience is built through developmental competencies and prosocial support systems.
- School-Integrated, Fidelity-Driven Prevention Deliverymethodology: school-based preventionBy embedding evidence-based, standardized curricula within schools through long-term, tailored partnerships, we ensure sustained and high-fidelity program delivery because institutional integration increases reach, consistency, and alignment with youth development needs.