irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.05MCHILD CARE - OPERATED TWO FULLY LICENSED DAY CARE FACILITIES.
- #2 $584KFAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES - PROVIDED TUTORING, AFTER SCHOOL STUDY FACILITIES, A VIRTUAL LEARNING HUB, COUNSELING, AND SPORTS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES.
named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Buffalo River Fest Park
Three-acre public access park on the Buffalo River featuring boardwalk, amphitheater, and Tewksbury Lodge for community events
Food Pantry
Distributes food boxes and emergency food supplies to families in the 14210 zip code and surrounding areas
Mutual Riverfront Park
One-acre public park with rain gardens, walking paths, kayak storage, and heritage center along the Buffalo River
Striving for Excellence After School Program
After-school academic and enrichment program for K-8 students including homework help, STEM classes, art, physical education, and field trips
Summer of Excellence Day Camp
Summer day camp program for children offering educational and recreational activities
VCA Child Care
State-licensed child care center serving up to 60 children, located at the Fr. Carmichael Center
Valley Child Care at Larkin
Second state-licensed day care facility serving 60 children in Larkinville neighborhood
Valley Nature Park and Habitat Trail
Outdoor living classroom and nature trail created from former dumping ground, used for environmental education
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Senior Congregate Centers 1 activity
- Deliver senior citizen programs promoting health, socialization, and wellnessProvides a comprehensive senior program offering congregate meals, low-impact exercise, recreational activities (e.g., Bingo, art classes), day trips, health screenings, and transportation assistance to support healthy aging and social engagement among elderly residents in the Buffalo River Community.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Distribute food assistance through pantry, produce boxes, and emergency requestsOperates a weekly food pantry every Thursday, distributes 100 monthly produce food boxes, and provides emergency food aid upon request via phone or email to residents of the 14210 zip code or surrounding areas. Also offers referrals to external agencies for unmet needs.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community events and cultural celebrationsPlans and organizes annual community events such as the “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Buffalo River Fest, and family-focused gatherings including Thanksgiving Dinner, Bingo Night, Talent Show, and End of Year Picnic to strengthen community bonds and celebrate ethnic pride.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Manage public parks and nature spaces for recreation and environmental educationOwns and operates Buffalo River Fest Park and Mutual Riverfront Park, and transformed an illegal dumping site into the Valley Nature Park & Habitat Trail—an outdoor classroom used for hands-on STEM and ecological learning. These spaces support neighborhood beautification, public access, and environmental education.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Offer internships and service-learning opportunities for studentsProvides internship placements for college students in public relations, social work, nutrition, education, and management, and accepts high school students completing community service hours to support workforce development and experiential learning.
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Operate licensed child care centers for children ages 6 weeks to 5 yearsRuns two New York State-licensed child care centers, each serving up to 60 children, providing educational and nurturing care including Universal Pre-K programming. One center is located at the Fr. Carmichael Center and the second at Larkinville.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide after-school and summer academic and enrichment programs for K–8 studentsOffers structured after-school and summer camp programs focused on academic support, STEM, literacy, art, physical education, and social development for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Includes homework help led by certified teachers, small-group tutoring, computer instruction, and field trips.
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Youth Development Programs 1 activity
- Run youth development programs for at-risk and impoverished youthImplements the “Striving For Excellence” Youth Program and other initiatives targeting at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth, focusing on academic achievement, personal growth, and community involvement.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conduct research on community safety and youth program impactCarried out a crime comparison study that demonstrated a significant reduction in youth-related police calls during periods when VCA part-time programs were active, indicating measurable community safety benefits from youth programming.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.62M
Contributions & grants$925K35%
Program service revenue$1.00M38%
Investment income$15K1%
Other revenue$675K
expenses
Total expenses$3.16M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$1.88M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.93M
Cash$1.78M
Investments$0
Liabilities$117K
Net assets$5.82M
Liquid reserves6.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -11.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENISE PIKUZINSKI | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $105K |
board members · 18
- BERTHA HYDE — BOARD MEMBER
- BILL MILLER — BOARD MEMBER
- CAROLYN LOPEZ — PRESIDENT
- CHERI DOLAN — BOARD MEMBER
- CONNIE LYDON — BOARD MEMBER
- DONALD ROGERS — BOARD MEMBER
- ELAINE BAUER — BOARD MEMBER
- IAN JOSEPH — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES COSGROVE — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH CARPINO — VICE PRESIDE
- JUDY NOWAK — SECRETARY
- MARK ROJEK — TREASURER
- MARK SCHROEDER — BOARD MEMBER
- MATTHEW DOBSON — BOARD MEMBER
- NICOLE MARTINEZ — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD HYDE — BOARD MEMBER
- THOMAS KILIANSKI — BOARD MEMBER
- WILLIAM BUTLER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Art Services, Inc. Partner — Provides art classes for seniors in the VCA Senior Program.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Funder — Funded the Field Guide Project through its Blue Fund program.
- Buffalo State College Partner — Assigned a Teacher Corps Team to collaborate with VCA on community programs including a preschool initiative.
- Carpenters Local 9 Partner — Assisted in moving steel buildings for the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- City of Buffalo Government — Negotiated with VCA for takeover of Fr. Carmichael Center and committed to maintain the building.
- Cullen Foundation Funder — Supports the VCA’s youth programs through foundation funding.
- Denise Pikuzinski, MBA Partner — Executive Director of VCA, point of contact for job applications.
- Electrical Workers Local 41 Partner — Assisted in moving steel buildings for the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- Empire State Development Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- Erie County Division for Youth Government — Partner agency supporting youth programming at the VCA.
- Erie County Youth Board Funder — Provided funding enabling VCA to lease headquarters and extend programming to schools.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to advertise and announce community events.
- Feedmore WNY Partner — Collaborates through referral pathways for individuals seeking emergency food assistance.
- Food Bank of WNY Partner — Recognizes The Valley Community Association as an Emergency Food Provider on a referral basis.
- Ironworkers Local 6 Partner — Spearheaded union efforts to relocate portable classrooms for the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- Laborers Local 210 Partner — Assisted in moving steel buildings for the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- New York State Canal Corporation Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Department of Education Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Department of Health Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Department of State Coastal Resources Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Dormitory Authority Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Education Department Government — Funds the VCA's youth programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative.
- New York State Office of Child and Family Services Government — State-level agency providing support or funding for youth programming.
- New York State Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Government agency providing funding or partnership support
- New York State Power Authority Government — Negotiated with VCA regarding relocation of Ice Boom and co-development of Mutual Riverfront Park.
- Operating Engineers Local 17 Partner — Assisted in moving steel buildings for the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- Quality Stars NY Partner — Participating organization in the Quality Stars NY rating and improvement system for early childhood programs.
- Richard Rupp Foundation Funder — Provided financial assistance to establish the Frank Pezzimenti Academic Center.
- State of New York Government — Licensing authority for the VCA's child care centers
+ 7 more
strategies · 5
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 Empowerment through Integrated Supportmethodology: community_empowermentBy engaging residents across all age groups in comprehensive, integrated services—spanning health, education, economic support, and environmental stewardship—the organization fosters community ownership and self-sufficiency because sustained empowerment emerges from addressing interconnected needs in a holistic, inclusive manner.
- Experiential STEM Learning through Nature-Based Educationmethodology: outdoor experiential learningBy using the Valley Nature Park & Habitat Trail as an outdoor classroom, the organization delivers STEM education that reinforces ecological knowledge because experiential, place-based learning increases student engagement and retention compared to traditional classroom instruction.
- Holistic Senior Wellness Modelmethodology: holistic senior wellnessBy integrating nutrition, physical activity, social engagement, and health care navigation, the organization supports healthy aging among seniors because multifactorial interventions address the interdependent determinants of elder well-being, reducing isolation and improving health outcomes.
- Integrated Co-Location of Services to Promote Self-Sufficiencymethodology: integrated_support_servicesBy combining access to food, nutrition education, employment services, and public benefits enrollment in one setting, the organization supports self-sufficiency because co-located services reduce barriers to access and enable clients to address multiple needs simultaneously, increasing program utilization and effectiveness.
- Youth Engagement as a Public Safety Strategymethodology: youth-engagement-for-public-safetyBy operating part-time youth athletic leagues, the organization reduces youth-related crime and improves community safety because structured, positive engagement during at-risk hours disrupts pathways to delinquency and strengthens social cohesion.