irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $397KPAWSITIVE FOR HEROES - WNY HEROES PROVIDED COMBAT VETERANS WITH A SERVICE DOG & TRAINING TO BENEFIT FROM MEDICAL ISSUES, INCLUDING PTSD.
- #2 $512KOPERATION B.O.O.T.S. - BROUGHT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER IN A CASUAL, NON-CLINICAL, NON-THREATENING SETTING IN SAFE, FUN ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOSTER TEAMWORK, NETWORKING, AND FRIENDSHIP.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Little Heroes Annual Christmas Party
Christmas event for children of military families
Operation B.O.O.T.S.
Brings veterans and their families together in casual, non-clinical settings to foster teamwork, networking, and friendship
Pawsitive for Heroes
Provides combat veterans with service dogs and training to assist with medical issues including PTSD; dogs are trained in partnership with state correctional facilities
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Deliver family care services including food, gifts, and school suppliesProvides food, holiday meals, holiday gifts, and school supplies to children of veterans as part of comprehensive family support services. Supported over 135 veteran families during the holiday season through sponsor matching.
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Veteran Support Grantmaking 1 activity
- Engage volunteers and expand operational capacityMobilizes volunteers from diverse backgrounds across Western New York to support veterans and has purchased a dedicated facility to house operations, funded by partner foundations.
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Animal-Assisted Support Services 1 activity
- Fund and provide service dogs for veterans with PTSDOperates the "Pawsitive for Heroes" program, which funds and provides service dogs to combat veterans to address PTSD and related medical issues. Includes training and financial support to offset healthcare costs for service dogs.
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Veterans' Social and Gathering Clubs 1 activity
- Host monthly and annual events to build veteran communityOrganizes monthly events and annual gatherings, such as the Red, White & Blue Charity Gala, to bring veterans and their families together in safe, non-clinical environments that foster teamwork, networking, and friendship. The 2025 gala drew 1,060 attendees.
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Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
- Provide financial assistance to veterans and their familiesOffers immediate financial aid to veterans and their families experiencing hardship, including support for housing, healthcare costs, and while awaiting disability benefits. Operates across 14 counties in Western New York.
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Veteran Benefits and Reintegration Support 1 activity
- Support veteran career transition and employmentProvides career transition services including resume assistance through volunteer career coaches and helps veterans translate military skills into civilian employment opportunities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.70M
Contributions & grants$1.68M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$11K1%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$1.72M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$432K
Grants paid out$1.01M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.35M
Cash$1.25M
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.35M
Liquid reserves8.7 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -15.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER KREIGER SR | PRESIDENT/CE | 80 | $65K |
| LYNN MAGISTRALE | EXE. VICE PR | 80 | $60K |
board members · 18
- ANDREW DEMMIN — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW PRIVITERA — DIRECTOR
- ANGELO VECCHIO — DIRECTOR
- ANTHONY GLISZCZYNSKI — DIRECTOR
- ANTHONY KUHN — DIRECTOR
- BARBARA OLIVER — DIRECTOR
- BOB HOAG — TREASURER
- FRANK PICKERING — DIRECTOR
- JIM ANDRES — VICE CHAIR
- KARLA GADLEY — DIRECTOR
- KIRBY JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
- LAURA SCHWALBE — BOARD MEMBER
- MIKE HUBER — DIRECTOR
- MIKE KISLACK — BOARD CHAIRM
- PATRICK BROWN — DIRECTOR
- SETH CALLERI — SECRETARY
- SHARON CIMINELLI — DIRECTOR
- TERRY VOSBURG — DIRECTOR
relationships · 48
Who they work with
- 12 Gates Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Allstate Foundation Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- Brady Corp Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Buffalo Bandits Partner — Partnered on veteran engagement events and honored supporters of WNY HEROES INC.
- Buffalo Bills Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtor Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Buffalo Sabres Partner — Collaborated on service dog training and public engagement events, including pairing team dogs with the Pawsitive for Heroes program.
- Buffalo Sabres Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Charity Navigator Network — Rated by Charity Navigator with a 96% score.
- Chris Kreiger Partner — Individual leader providing direct assistance to veterans, including emergency housing and holiday meals.
- Citi Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Cummings Foundation Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- Dansforth Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Derrick Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Dunn Tire Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Fiore Foundation Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- First Niagara Foundation Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- Five Star Bank Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Foundation 214 Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- GEICO Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Greene State Correctional Facility Partner — Hosts the Pawsitive for Heroes service dog training program, with puppies residing there for 15–18 months.
- Grigg Lewis Foundation Funder — Funder of WNY HEROES INC
- HSBC Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Highmark Blue Shield Blue Cross of WNY Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Home Depot Partner — Hosted service dog training sessions for the Pawsitive for Heroes program.
- Independent Health Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Ingram Micro Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Iron Will Movie Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Keller Chevrolet Partner — Sponsor of WNY HEROES INC
- Kenneth L. And Katherine G. Koessler Family Foundation Inc. Funder — Provided a $10,000 donation in support of the Pawsitive for Heroes service dog program.
+ 18 more
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.
- Animal-Assisted Therapeutic Interventionmethodology: animal-assisted-therapyBy providing service dogs and training to combat veterans with medical issues like PTSD, the organization delivers clinically meaningful therapy because human-animal bonds reduce symptoms and improve emotional regulation and daily functioning.
- Peer Support Through Recreational Connectionmethodology: peer-support-through-recreationBy organizing non-clinical, recreational group activities for veterans and their families, the organization fosters peer-to-peer bonds that promote mental wellness and resilience because shared experience in low-pressure settings reduces isolation and builds community.
- Veteran-Led Support Modelmethodology: veteran-led supportBy employing and empowering veterans to lead and deliver services, the organization builds trust and relatability, which enhances engagement and effectiveness of support because shared experience fosters deeper connection and understanding.
- Wraparound Support for Stability and Dignitymethodology: wraparound_supportBy connecting veterans to health and housing resources while providing essential household items, the organization stabilizes families in transition because addressing basic needs preserves dignity and prevents downstream crises.