named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Character Chase 5K
Annual community event promoting character development through physical activity and public engagement; supported by corporate sponsors and volunteers.
Character Excellence Scholarship
Offers $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors from Western New York who demonstrate strong personal character through an essay and letters of recommendation; funds are paid directly to the recipient's post-secondary institution.
ECHOS Mini-Grant Program
Provides up to $500 to schools and youth-serving 501(c)(3) organizations in eight Western New York counties to support sustainable, student-engaged character development initiatives such as service projects, character recognition programs, and curriculum integration.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Award scholarships to high school seniors based on characterProvides $1,000 cash scholarships annually to high school seniors who demonstrate strong character and intend to pursue post-secondary education or training. Selection is based on character essays and supporting recommendations.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Fund character-based initiatives in schools and youth organizationsProvides financial support in the form of mini-grants to schools and youth-serving organizations to implement sustainable character education programs. Requires recipients to submit project reflections, photos, and impact data within 3–6 months of funding.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host annual character education events and community activitiesOrganizes and hosts annual community-wide events including conferences, a Character Carnival, and a Character Chase 5K to promote awareness and practice of character virtues in Western New York.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
- Promote character development in primary school studentsEncourages primary school students to practice good character with a focus on long-term personal benefits, as part of sustained community-wide character education efforts.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognize character program achievements through annual awards dinnerHosts an annual Character Excellence Awards Celebration Dinner to showcase projects and recognize achievements of grant recipients in character education initiatives.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Produce and distribute character education materialsCreates and offers downloadable PDF posters of character traits, designed for printing on standard 11″ x 17″ paper, to support character education efforts in schools and communities.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$40K
Contributions & grants$29K74%
Program service revenue$6K15%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$34K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$14K
balance sheet
Total assets$51K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$51K
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +51.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
Who runs it
board members · 10
- Bradon Hafner — Director
- David Smaczniak — Director
- Diane Cozzo — Director
- Dina Ferraraccio — Director
- Jerry Parisi — Director
- Job Valluthamannunkal — Director
- Katherine Kamieniarz — Director
- Lorene Boyd — Director
- Lucas Cellino — Director
- Spencer Payne — Director
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Buffalo State College Partner — Alma mater of Peter Simon, where he earned BS and Masters of Education degrees.
- Character Council of Western New York Network — Character Council of Hamburg Inc is part of the Character Council of Western New York network.
- Character Council of Western New York Partner — Provides downloadable character education resources, indicating a collaborative or regional relationship with Character Council of Hamburg Inc.
- Harvest Time Partners Partner — Collaborates with The Character Council of Western New York to fund and administer the $1000 scholarship program for high school seniors.
- Harvest Time Partners Foundation Funder — Provided a $10,000 grant to launch the Character Excellence Scholarship and ECHOS Mini-Grant Program in 2013
- Harvest Time Partners Foundation Funder — Provides sponsorship support for the Echos Mini-Grant program.
- Lake Shore Central School District Partner — Employer of Peter Simon and site for early integration of character education into classroom instruction.
strategies · 3
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.
- Character-Based Evaluation for Scholarships and Programsmethodology: character-based selectionBy selecting scholarship recipients and funding programs based on personal values, lived experience, and community input rather than academic metrics, the organization fosters equitable access and promotes long-term ethical development because character is seen as a stronger predictor of meaningful contribution and resilience.
- Experiential Character Education Through Community Engagementmethodology: experiential_character_educationBy using interactive events like carnivals and 5Ks to teach character traits, the organization increases retention and behavioral change because experiential learning in a communal, enjoyable context creates emotional resonance and peer reinforcement that traditional instruction lacks.
- Integrated and Sustainable Character Development Modelmethodology: integrated-character-educationBy embedding character education into daily school practices and funding student-led initiatives, the organization ensures sustained impact because integration normalizes ethical behavior as part of routine life, while student ownership increases engagement and peer-to-peer diffusion of values.