irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $16KTHE BESTSELF RECOVERY COMMUNITY LOCATED AT PREVENTIONFOCUS IS A NON-CLINICAL COLLABORATIVE VENTURE WITH BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ADULTS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN THEIR RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER VISIT THE CENTER FOR A VARIETY OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RANGING FROM RECOVERY COACHING TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE YOGA, COOKING CLASSES, PAINTING CLASSES, DISCUSSION GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
- #2 $343KPREVENTIONFOCUS PARTNERED WITH THE NY COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING TO SUPPORT THE YOU(TH) DECIDE CAMPAIGN IN ERIE COUNTY. THE CAMPAIGN WORKS HELP PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING BY: (1) INCREASING YOUTH AWARENESS THAT MEDIA MESSAGES ARE CONSTRUCTED USING SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES TO CONVEY MEANING AND AFFECT THE VIEWER/LISTENER'S BELIEFS AND ACTIONS. (2) HELPING YOUTH UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF GAMBLING.(3) DECREASING YOUTH EXPOSURE TO GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADVERTISING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL, ETC. (4) PROVIDING A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO WANT TO HELP IN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING SUCH AS:(A) INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS LIKE PALM CARDS, BROCHURES AND POSTERS.(B) FACTS ABOUT GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION.(C) UP TO DATE NEWS AND RESEARCH SURROUNDING UNDERAGE GAMBLING.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
BestSelf Recovery Community Center
Non-clinical recovery support center offering recovery coaching, social activities, and special events for adults maintaining recovery from substance use disorder.
Supper Club Cooking Program
Ten-session program for adolescent girls to learn cooking, nutrition, and budgeting while building communication and friendship skills in a group setting.
Too Good for Drugs
Universal prevention program teaching middle and high school students social-emotional skills, decision-making, and resistance to substance use through interactive classroom activities.
You(TH) Decide Campaign
Collaborative initiative to prevent underage gambling by increasing youth media literacy, reducing exposure to gambling advertising, and providing educational resources to youth and communities.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Education 4 activities
- Advocate for policy and cultural change to support healthy decision-makingWorks to influence laws, policies, social norms, and beliefs to create environments that support healthier choices related to substance use and behavioral health.
- Build capacity of coalitions and professionals in prevention practiceSupports grassroots coalitions and professional groups in implementing evidence-based prevention strategies to address substance use and related behavioral health issues.
- Deliver school- and community-based prevention education programsProvides science-based programs in schools and community organizations that teach decision-making, communication, goal-setting, and resistance skills to prevent substance abuse, underage drinking, problem gambling, bullying, violence, and suicide. Uses interactive games and experiential learning methods, including a ten-session cooking program for adolescent girls focused on nutrition, budgeting, and communication.
- Implement youth problem gambling prevention campaignsPartners with the NY Council on Problem Gambling to deliver the You(th) Decide Campaign in Erie County, providing youth education, media literacy training, and informational resources to prevent underage gambling.
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Outpatient Substance Use Treatment 1 activity
- Operate recovery support services for adults in recoveryRuns a recovery community and outreach center offering non-clinical supportive services such as recovery coaching, social activities, and educational classes for adults maintaining recovery from substance use disorder.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.21M
Contributions & grants$1.16M96%
Program service revenue$36K3%
Investment income$5K0%
Other revenue$13K
expenses
Total expenses$1.32M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$926K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$483K
Cash$277K
Investments$0
Liabilities$166K
Net assets$317K
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +2.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $112K |
| VICTORIA SIMMONS | DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION | 35 | $101K |
board members · 8
- CHRISTINE PROULX GRZYB — SECRETARY
- JAMES LIPUMA — VICE PRESIDENT
- JOHN RICCARDI — PRESIDENT
- KIMBERLY WALLACE — MEMBER
- MARY E HAGGERTY — MEMBER
- PATRICK MOSES — MEMBER
- ROAN MONCRIEFFE — TREASURER
- ROBERT SONNENBERGER — MEMBER
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Partner — Collaborates with PreventionFocus to operate the BestSelf Recovery Community, a non-clinical recovery support center.
- Frontier Central Schools Partner — Collaborates on prevention initiatives through board member involvement and shared goals.
- Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District Partner — Hosts the Supper Club program in its schools, collaborating with Preventionfocus to deliver cooking and life skills education to middle school girls.
- NY Council on Problem Gambling Partner — Partners with PreventionFocus to support the You(th) Decide Campaign to prevent underage gambling in Erie County.
- NYSUT Partner — Legal and advocacy collaboration through board member participation.
- People, Inc. Partner — Collaborates on community health and prevention efforts through board member engagement.
- letstalkstigma.org Partner — Collaborates on anti-stigma initiatives and provides resources through the Anti-Stigma Coalition.
- talkitover.org Partner — Provides resources to help adults talk to youth about drugs and mental health.
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.
- Communal Cooking as Relational and Emotional Developmentmethodology: community_cookingBy using communal cooking and meal sharing, we support social-emotional development and relationship-building, because shared food preparation creates a context for authentic conversation, trust, and belonging.
- Community-Based Recovery Support Modelmethodology: recovery_community_modelBy combining recovery coaching with social and recreational activities in a non-clinical setting, we promote sustained recovery from substance use disorder, because peer connection and normalized social engagement reduce isolation and reinforce positive identity.
- Life Skills and Social-Emotional Learning for Preventionmethodology: social_emotional_learningBy teaching core life skills and social-emotional competencies, we prevent substance use and promote healthy development, because these skills strengthen self-regulation, decision-making, and resilience in the face of risk.
- Media Literacy for Behavioral Risk Preventionmethodology: media_literacy_preventionBy building youth media literacy, we prevent underage gambling and other risky behaviors, because understanding media influence empowers youth to recognize manipulation and make informed choices.