named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Books for Kids
Distributes free books to underprivileged children in local schools and community centers to promote literacy and early childhood development.
Mentoring at Lorraine Elementary
Long-running mentoring program providing guidance and support to elementary school students in Buffalo.
PolioPlus Initiative
Participates in Rotary International’s global effort to eradicate polio through fundraising and advocacy.
Read to Succeed
Grants support for literacy programs that provide free books to at-risk children in Buffalo.
Rotary Reads Kids Club
Supports children's reading spaces in public libraries through grants for books and learning materials.
Young Audiences of WNY
Funds afterschool arts programs that provide creative outlets and safe spaces for at-risk youth.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Addressing food insecurity through food drives and meal distributionConducts food drives and meal distribution programs, and supports local food banks and pantries to combat hunger in the Buffalo community.
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Children's Book Distribution Programs 1 activity
- Distributing books to underprivileged childrenRuns the "Books for Kids" program that distributes books to at-risk children in Buffalo through partnerships with schools, libraries, and literacy organizations, including funding for the annual distribution of 6,000 free books.
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Literacy Program Funding 1 activity
- Funding community literacy and education projectsProvides grants to support literacy and learning initiatives, including funding for children’s areas in public libraries, digital literacy training with 3-D printers and iPad stations, and book prescription programs for pediatric patients.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Funding educational technology for afterschool programsProvides grants to supply technology such as BAK tablets, iPad Mini 3 devices, and iPad docking stations to support digital learning in afterschool programs for youth.
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funding polio eradication initiativesProvides financial support for polio eradication efforts globally through contributions to Rotary International's PolioPlus program, including funding for vaccination, advocacy, and fundraising activities.
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Regular Membership Meetings 1 activity
- Holding regular club meetings to coordinate service activitiesHolds weekly meetings at the Saturn Club in Buffalo, NY, to plan and coordinate service projects and club operations.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Providing volunteer leadership for community and international developmentOrganizes volunteer services to advance community development and foster international understanding through local and global initiatives.
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Art Museum Funding and Support 1 activity
- Supporting visual arts education in underserved communitiesProvides funding for ongoing visual arts classes at Locust Street Neighborhood Art on Buffalo’s East Side to support community-based arts programming.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Funding public space improvements and civic installationsProvides grants for civic infrastructure projects including the construction of the downtown Rotary Rink, the installation of the Rotary Flagpole, and restoration of the USS Little Rock anchor at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park.
- Operating a long-term school mentoring programRuns a mentoring program at Lorraine Elementary School in Buffalo for 28 years, recognized as the city's longest-running program of its kind.
- Translating and promoting The Four-Way TestTranslates Rotary's ethical framework, The Four-Way Test, into over 100 languages to promote integrity and service worldwide.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$105K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$49K47%
Investment income——
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$104K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$26K
Grants paid out$11K
balance sheet
Total assets$94K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$91K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +4.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 6
- BRIDGET WILLADSEN — DIRECTOR
- DAVID CYBULSKI — DIRECTOR
- JOHN BRADLEY — DIRECTOR
- JOHN EHRBAR — DIRECTOR
- MATTHEW PLIZGA — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM KEEFER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Allentown Pediatrics Partner — Partnered with Reach Out and Read to enable pediatricians to prescribe books to young patients.
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters Partner — Provided grant funding for BAK tablets used in afterschool programs.
- Computers for Children Partner — Provided grant funding for technology used in digital literacy training.
- Local food banks and pantries Partner — Partners with local food banks and pantries to support meal distribution and combat food insecurity.
- Locust Street Neighborhood Art Partner — Provided grant funding to support free visual arts classes in the East Side Fruit Belt neighborhood.
- Reach Out and Read Partner — Supported a book prescription program at Allentown Pediatrics through a grant.
- Read to Succeed Partner — Funded the distribution of free books to at-risk children through a grant.
- Rotary International Network — Member of the global Rotary network.
- Rotary International Network — Member organization participating in global initiatives such as polio eradication.
- Rotary International Network — Member organization participating in global initiatives such as the PolioPlus program.
- Schools, libraries, and literacy organizations Partner — Collaborates with local educational and literacy institutions to distribute books through the "Books for Kids" program.
- Young Audiences of WNY Partner — Funded the purchase of iPad Mini 3 devices for use in afterschool arts programs.
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.
- Collaborative Community Needs Assessmentmethodology: community_needs_assessmentBy identifying community needs through collaborative discussion and developing tailored solutions, we increase the relevance and impact of service initiatives, because inclusive problem-solving ensures interventions are grounded in local context and shared ownership.
- Four-Way Test for Ethical Decision-Makingmethodology: four_way_testBy applying The Four-Way Test (Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?) in business and professional life, we foster ethical behavior and integrity in community leadership, because structured moral reflection leads to more principled and effective service.
- Partnership-Based Literacy Promotionmethodology: community_partnership_literacyBy partnering with educational and literacy institutions, we amplify the reach and effectiveness of early childhood literacy programs, because institutional collaborations enhance resource access and program credibility in underserved communities.
- Volunteer Mobilization for Local Food Securitymethodology: volunteer_mobilization_food_securityBy mobilizing volunteers and leveraging local resources, we address food insecurity through coordinated grassroots action, because community-driven responses are more responsive and sustainable than top-down interventions.