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Published by burgesst, 2018-08-04 11:29:25

2017 Annual Report

Keywords: Annual Report 2017 EPIC

Annual
Report

MISSION VISION

Helping families, schools and communities A world where every child has a
raise children to become responsible and strong start and promising future.
successful adults.

Mr. Robert Wilson

EPIC was born out of a tragedy experienced Values:

by founder Robert Wilson. In 1977, his wife  We value all children and their right to a
was murdered by a 15-year-old neighbor boy, strong start and successful future.
We value families and their primary
whom the couple had befriended.  influence on a child’s development.
Investigation of the child’s life indicated that We value our partnerships with educators,
community organizations, and funders as
he had been abused, neglected, and placed we work together to support children and
in eleven different foster homes. He had not  families.

experienced love; he only knew anger and

violence. While it was too late to change what

had happened to his wife, Wilson felt that it

was not too late for others. In 1980, he  We value professionalism and will act with

established EPIC in Buffalo, New York with a integrity, respect, and honesty at all times.
vision of preventing tragedies like his. EPIC
workshops and trainings carry out Robert  We value diversity and are committed to
Wilson’s mission by involving the entire inclusiveness across all levels of our
community in helping children make organization.
responsible decisions, understand and
respect authority, develop positive self-  We value excellence in all we do.
 We value our team who delivers EPIC’s

esteem, plan for the future, and succeed in mission with passion, knowledge and skill.

life.
Areas of Focus:

Vision Statement:  Parenting Education

A world where every child has a strong start  Family Engagement

and promising future.  Youth Services

 Professional Development

Mission Statement:

Helping families, schools and communities

raise children to become responsible and

successful adults.

Hello EPIC Friends and Supporters!

We are pleased to present the 2017 Annual Report. Thanks to our

valued partnership with each of you, EPIC made considerable progress
in several key areas including advancing our strategic plan and
strengthening program offerings.

With a focus on program growth, EPIC launched a Car Seat Safety Pam Johnson
program, enhanced our Early Care Engagement program, co-sponsored 2018 EPIC Board Chair
a Family Engagement Conference and developed a statewide Parent
Leadership learning experience for Ready At Five in Maryland. Through
EPIC programs, we maintained a strong emphasis on the growth of
family confidence and capacity and mission-driven community
relationships. Our strategic plan also guided our development and
marketing plans as we expanded our two cornerstone fundraising events
and strengthened EPIC’s website and social media footprint to feature
everyday ideas and inspiration for parents and caring adults who raise
children.

We supported young parents with programs designed to address their Tara N. Burgess
personal growth and parenting needs through our Just for Teens Executive Director
program. EPIC continued to expand our parenting programs in
Niagara County and provided Family Bonding events where families
were encouraged to explore and practice new activities together to
support their children’s learning. We continued our family engagement
work with Buffalo Public School #6 where we implemented EPIC’s
newly developed parent-child literacy engagement projects. In support
of Buffalo’s waterfront growth, our successful Canalside Storytime
events were accessible to hundreds of families who enjoyed guest
readers and interacted with hands-on activities with their children. As
EPIC continues to update, expand and develop new programs, we will
remain laser-focused on supporting families as they engage with their
children around academics, social-emotional growth, and health and
safety.

EPIC Board and staff are grateful for, and humbled by, the significant
individual and community support that our many collaborators contribute to our mission. As
partners in the work we do together to support all families, we thank you for your commitment to
ensuring that every child has a strong start and a promising future.

Thank you and please enjoy reviewing our highlights from 2017!

Pamela Johnson Tara N. Burgess
EPIC Board Chair EPIC Executive Director

EPIC STAFF

Tara N. Burgess – Executive Director

National Office:
Jennifer A. Majeski – Chief Financial Officer
Sherri A. McMahon – Accounting Assistant

Marvel Miller – Administrative Assistant
Shelley Richards – VP of Outreach

Susanna Schenk – Family Engagement Specialist
Kristin Scholz – Director of Development

WNY Staff:
Jasmarie Flores – Family Services Coordinator
Adrienne Garr – Program Coordinator Niagara County/NCCC
Madeline Gathers – Youth Services Manager
Renee Perry – Families in Transition Program Coordinator
Lisa O’Shei-Pittner – Family Services Manager
Miranda Riexinger – Families in Transition Manager
Patricia A. Stephens – Family Services Coordinator

Central Hudson Staff:
Phyllis Eig – Regional Director
Juana Billy – Program Coordinator
Shannon Daniel – Family Engagement Liaison My Brother’s Keeper/Monticello
Jane Sorensen – Program Manager Monticello

Central Hudson Facilitators:

Ariel De La Cruz Elisa Mendels
Kathleen Kreiter Martine Swerdling

WNY Facilitators:

Tonnalee Batchelor Kandice Hood Daniel Scholz
Rhonda Blatner Alicia Hutton Lekya Slaughter
Lisa Casper Rev. David Lewis
Melissa Davis Kurt Minervino Yvette Veira
Cheryl Dublin Montrease Moses Michael Williams
Tara Erwin Mary Pachla* *Senior Facilitator

2017 EPIC Board of Directors

Chair - William V. Gillmore
Vice Chair - Pamela Johnson, PhD
Treasurer - Melissa Biersbach, CPA
Secretary - Frederick Zwierlein, CPA

Christopher Banks
Valerie C. Cooley, PhD

Sam Costa
Mary Gresham, PhD

Nina Heard
Timothy M. Konicki
Maureen M. Lehsten, CPA

John Murphy
Brian Rochford
Scott Socha, CMA
Joseph Stabb, PhD, TE
Nancy Yassa
Stephen L. Yonaty, Esq., MBA
Ex-Officio Member - Sandra Rifkin

Newly Elected for 2018

Brian Baker
Stephen G. Jepson

Sean Keenan

2017 EPIC Committees

Executive Committee Quality Assurance Committee
Chair - William V. Gillmore Chair - Pamela Johnson
Vice-Chair - Pam Johnson Tara N. Burgess
Treasurer - Melissa Biersbach Valerie C. Cooley
Secretary - Frederick Zwierlein Linda Croglia
Mary Gresham
Finance Committee Christine Panagakis
Chair - Melissa Biersbach Michelle Urbanczyk
Brian Baker Nancy Yassa
Lindsay Batrowny Technology
William V. Gillmore Chair - Tara N. Burgess
Samantha Keller Timothy Konicki
Jennifer A. Majeski Maureen Lehsten
Hazel McCoy Stephen Yonaty
Scott Socha Development
Michelle Urbanczyk Chair - Sam Costa
Frederick Zwierlein Melissa Biersbach
Marketing Committee Tara N. Burgess
Chair - Brian Rochford Maureen Lehsten
Christopher Banks Kristin Scholz
Valerie C. Cooley Scott Socha
Sam Costa Special Events
Tara Erwin Brian Baker
Nina Heard Melissa Biersbach
Timothy Konicki Val Cooley
Brenda Palmer Sam Costa
Christine Pilozzi Nancy Gaglione
Rakee Rai Nina Heard
Kristin Scholz Steve Jepson
Joe Stabb Sean Keenan
Maureen Lehsten
Organizational Development Carol Murphy
Chair - Eileen Morgan John Murphy
Tara N. Burgess Howard Rich
Linda Croglia Brian Rochford
William V. Gillmore Kristin Scholz
Frederick Zwierlein

Nominating Committee
Chair - William V. Gillmore
Pam Johnson
Frederick Zwierlein

Family Engagement in Education Parenting Classes and Workshops

Family Engagement Assessment and Planning Ready, Set, Parent!
Model
Parenting classes in three age-appropriate areas – Infants
Assessment and planning services that build the capacity and Toddlers, Young Children, and Young Adolescents.
of school districts or individual schools to develop and
advance differentiated and standards based Family Families in Transition
Engagement plans and practices.
Parenting classes for families facing challenges such as
Parent Leadership Academy substance abuse, mental health concerns, domestic violence,
or custody issues that hinder their ability to be effective
Training that increases the communication and parents. Meets requirements for court or preventive
collaborative decision-making skills of parents who are or services.
wish to serve in a leadership role within the school.
Incredible Years—Parents and Babies
Parent Capacity Building Training
Evidence-based program for parents teaching ways to
School Volunteer promote baby’s social, emotional and language
Training that supports school volunteers in effectively development.
working with students and teachers, with an emphasis on
effective communication, conflict management, and Just for Teens
promoting and modeling character in the classroom.
Parenting and life skills program for pregnant and parenting
Taking Charge of Your Child’s Future teens that fosters social-emotional development, self-
Training that helps parents understand their influence and esteem, and parenting skills.
role as their child’s primary teacher to support learning
inside and outside the classroom. A good prelude to the Ready, Set, Read!
Parents as Advocates Training.
Family series that emphasizes the parent’s opportunity to
Parents as Advocates enhance learning and development and support their child’s
Training that develops the skills of parents to help their reading through simple activities, regardless of the parent’s
children succeed academically; to build individual education and literacy level.
relationships with the child and teacher; to create a
supportive home environment; and to understand school Storytime
systems, academic standards, assessments, and college/
career readiness expectations. Literacy lessons based on universally accepted teaching
methods incorporated into a number of themed interactive
Academic Support Classes for Parents experiences for both parents and their children.

Understanding Common Core Training Youth Services
Helps parents understand the basics of what the Common
Core learning Standards mean and how they will impact Just for Me
what your child experiences in the classroom.
The Journey to College and Career Begins Today Life skills program for middle and high school students
Intends to “plant the seeds” of hope and expectation that focusing on developing healthy relationships and personal
a college education is within their reach. health and well-being. Typically delivered in an afterschool
setting.
Internet and Social Media Safety
Professional Development
This workshop will provide fundamental information and
practices for students and parents about how to protect  Differentiated Family Engagement
themselves and their children from internet social media  Dynamic Group Facilitation
dangers and drama.  Family Engagement in the Afterschool Setting
 Parenting Practices for Childcare Workers
 Strategies for Challenging Teacher-Parent Interactions
 Supporting and Engaging Homeless Children and

Families

Parenting Classes

Providing the support, tools and resources
to help all parents positively and effectively

raise their children.

In 2017, EPIC began offering car seat safety classes. In partnership
with Catholic Health, through a grant from Graco and support from
General Motors Tonawanda Engine, we participated in, as well as
hosted, several car seat safety events throughout Western New
York. We supplied new car seats to over 200 families in need. A
special thanks goes out to the Buffalo Fire Department, Erie County
Sheriff’s Department, the NYS Police and the North Tonawanda
Police Department, for assisting in the various car seat safety
checks offered in 2017.

More 2017 highlights:

Generous funding from Garman Family Foundation, allowed EPIC
to return to the Buffalo Public High Schools with our Just for Teens
program, which provides direction and support to pregnant and
parenting students. Throughout the year, EPIC worked with over
60 pregnant and parenting teens in East High School, Lafayette
High School, McKinley High School and PS 197—Math, Science,
Technology Preparatory School. At the end of the year, we
celebrated their completion of the program (as well as the school
year), with a Mommy and Me (and Dads too) Celebration.

Thanks to the Grigg Lewis Foundation and the Niagara Area
Foundation, EPIC was able to continue its one-on-one parent
support services to mothers and children residing at Carolyn’s
House in Niagara County. We also added 15 family bonding
events that included Family Game Nights and Storytimes, a
special visit from Buffalo Zoomobile and a fun presentation from
The Aquarium of Niagara Traveling Touch Tank as well as a
healthy eating program, with a cooking demonstration from
Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Family Engagement

When families and schools connect, students succeed.

Family Engagement was a focus in 2017, as EPIC supported schools and districts as they worked
to improve student success and meet regulatory requirements through comprehensive assessment
and plan development. Additionally, EPIC provided family support and professional development
services to local child development centers.

Highlights of 2017:

Ready at Five—EPIC developed a Parent Leadership workshop series for Ready At Five, a
statewide agency that improves the practice and quality of childhood education across the state of
Maryland. Ready At Five’s Learning Party programs utilize interactive activities for parents and
children to promote early education goals. Utilizing sections of EPIC’s existing programs, Parent
Leadership Academy and Parents as Advocates, along with a section on implementing an advocacy
idea, EPIC developed the Parent Leadership Learning Party. The four 90 minute workshops offer an
hour of programming for parents and children separately followed by 30 minutes of combined skill
building time together. The workshops focus on trust and conflict, communication, advocacy and
idea implementation. In addition to creating the program, EPIC trained 30 facilitators in 2017 and 30
more early in 2018 from across the state of Maryland to deliver the series.

EPIC’s work with Buffalo PS #6 through a grant from the United Way is
building on the family engagement goals developed and implemented
over the past five years. This year’s grant provided services to Pre-K and
Kindergarten students and their families. Each month the children took
home a book along with activities related to the story, giving the families
concrete activities to support their child’s learning. EPIC also participated
in a number of events for the families at the school such as Ready
Freddie, Math and ELA Night, the Dr. Seuss inspired Read Across
America Day, Muffin’s for Mom, Donuts for Dad, a parenting workshop
and moving up day.

EPIC continues to support the Monticello School District with their family
engagement needs, including parent engagement through workshops,
community gardens, literacy connections with the local library, and Black
History Essay Contest and Event, in addition to a variety of other projects
and initiatives.

EPIC provided Early Care Engagement programming to Community Making Cat in the Hat hats

Action Organization of WNY and a dozen child at PS#6 on Read Across

development centers, through professional America Day.

development, family services and Storytime
events. Center staff and families participated in separate but similar
trainings in an effort to encourage academic and social, emotional growth
for the children and engagement and advocacy awareness. Over 250
staff and families benefited from this highly successful program that
prepares parents and their children for engagement at the elementary
school level, and prepares staff to encourage success.

EPIC hosted its annual Holiday party for 25 families. These families were
treated to dinner, had fun building gingerbread houses, and received
winter weather clothing items, toys and books and information about
variety of ways to support literacy at home.

EPIC 2017 Agencies, Schools and Partners:

Buffalo Niagara / Western NY Parent Network of Western New York
Apostle House Persons Against Trafficking Humans (PATH)
Avideo Company Inc. Rochester - St. John Fisher College
Best Self Behavioral Health Rochester - Urban Choice Charter School
Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo Self Advocacy Association of NYS
Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Inc.
Buffalo Health Sciences Charter School University District Community Development YWCA
Buffalo Public Schools - District office, East High
School, International Preparatory School at Grover of Niagara
Cleveland, #6, #30, #31, #53, #59, #79, #80, #94,
#97, Riverside High School, South Park High School Coalitions
Buffalo Urban League Buffalo - Care Management Coalition
Carolyn's House of the YWCA Buffalo - West Side Promise Neighborhood
Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. Clinical and Transitional Science initiative
Cheektowaga Central School District NYS Family Engagement Coalition
Child Advocacy Center of Niagara County Service Innovation and Impact Initiative
Child and Adolescent Treatment Services Western New York - Birth to Eight Coalition
Children’s Mental Health Coalition of WNY Western New York - Px 21 Prevention Coalition
City of Lockport Housing Authority
Community Action Organization of Erie County New Jersey
Compeer South Brunswick School District
Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange School District
Deaf Access Services Park Elementary School, Newark
East Aurora - East Aurora Pre-School Bridgeton Family Success Centers
East Aurora - First Presbyterian Pre-School Perth Amboy Public Schools
East Aurora - Nativity Pre-School
East High School Central Hudson
Erie County Department of Mental Health Eldred Central School District
Families CAN Fallsburg Central School District
Gloria Parks Community Center Monticello Central School District
Hannibal Central School District New York State - Office of Child and Family Services
Horizon Village Rehabilitation Center New York State Assemblyman Kenneth
Jericho Road
Journey's Child Care Enrichment Center Zebrowski
Lackawanna City School District Port Chester/RYE UFSD
Lafayette High School Rockland County Assistance
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center Rockland County Department of Social Services
Mental Health Association of Erie County Orange and Rockland Utilities
Mexico Central School District East Ramapo Central School District
Niagara County Community College Liberty Head Start of Rockland
Rockland County Youth Bureau
Partnership Program Sullivan County Youth Bureau
Niagara County Department of Social Services United Way of Rockland County
Niagara County Family Court
Niagara Falls High School Beyond New York State
Niagara Falls Housing Authority Bellevue School District - Bellevue, Washington
Northwest Buffalo Community Center Maryland Department of Education
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Ready at Five - Maryland

Services
Office of Child & Family Services
Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Youth Services

Helping youth face everyday challenges
and guiding them toward academic success.

Highlights of 2017:

Just for Me
EPIC provided a Just for Me Mini-Conference for English as a
Second Language (ESL) female students from Lafayette High
School. The conference covered two topics: “Support Systems”
and “Setting Goals” and ended with a special “Celebrating Me”
ceremony. The girls had the opportunity to learn valuable life skills;
share their experiences and develop relationships with fellow
teens; and connected with helpful community resources.

Internet & Social Media Safety
EPIC’s second year of Internet & Social Media Safety
saw 15 presentations across Western New York and
into Ohio, with over 600 parents and students in
attendance. This program was developed to share the
dangers and benefits of internet and social media use
with parents and students in grades 5—12. The
program also introduces ways for parents to engage
their children in conversations about internet and
social media usage.

Character Education
EPIC offered its Character Education program at Northwest Buffalo Community Centers.
This curriculum focuses on nine core character traits:

Responsibility
Respect

Citizenship
Self-reliance
Open-mindedness
Trustworthiness

Fairness
Honesty
Caring

Developed by teachers, this program is aligned with grade level subject standards, with
interactive lessons that are meant to increase positive behaviors, achievement and parent
engagement.

Professional Development

Helping professionals support and engage families.

In 2017, EPIC and our partner, Parent Network of
WNY, launched our first annual Family
Engagement Conference. Evidence shows that
when families, schools and communities work
together, students are more successful, grades
and graduation rates improve, and the entire
community benefits.

Participants heard from Ken Braswell, Executive L to R: Michelle Urbanczyk, former President
Director of Fathers Incorporated, and key note of EPIC; Carlos Garcia from the Office of
speaker, about the importance of fathers being
engaged in their child’s life. A lunchtime Higher Education; Susan Barlow, Executive
presentation was provided by Carlos Garcia from Director of Parent Network; and Ken Braswell,
the Office of Higher Education from the New York
State Education Department about the benefits of Executive Director of Fathers Inc.
engaging disadvantaged families.

This day-long conference saw over 180 education
and community agency staff engaged in learning about
early childhood, data supporting the impact of family
engagement, trauma informed care, home visiting,
engaging hard to reach families and families with
disabilities from several experts in the WNY area. They
closed out the day with a packet to begin planning for
meaningful family engagement.

Central Hudson

EPIC’s reach goes beyond Western New York.

The Central Hudson Regional Office
provided training and programs in Rockland,
Westchester, Orange, Sullivan, Putnam,
and Ulster Counties as well as other sites
within the downstate area. Our regional
2-day facilitator training often serves sites
from NYC to north and west of our regional
office located in Spring Valley in Rockland
County. This office received funding from
the County of Rockland, OCFS – Rockland
County Youth Bureau, Orange & Rockland
Utilities, Rockland County Department of
Social Services and United Way of
Rockland County to bring additional
programs to the teen parents in East Ramapo School District and the Village of Spring
Valley. We partner and collaborate with the County Health Department, local libraries and
community centers.

Our EPIC Central Hudson staff also facilitates Just for Teens and Ready, Set, Read! in
English and Spanish.

Our Extensive Work in the Monticello Central School District

A variety of Family Engagement activities took place in 2017 as part of an ongoing
partnership with the Monticello Central School District. Through EPIC, the Monticello
Schools have seen an increase in families who are engaging with the schools and attending
after school events by offering and implementing strategies at both the district and building
level in order to increase student achievement. Over 2,800 people attended EPIC events
and workshops. Two examples of these include:

 EPIC hosted a Family Engagement Holiday Event. The Holiday Laser Light Show
was designed by the Academy of Finance (AOF) students. Students learned how
to plan, organize and implement a successful event through the EPIC
program. The event was opened to all school district families.

 The Monticello Central School District parents and students of Cooke, Rutherford
and Chase Elementary Schools came out to an October workshop. The topic of
the parent workshop was “Communicating with Teachers.” Students attended a
children’s workshop filled with arts & crafts, team building activities along with
EPIC’s early literacy based programming: Storytime.

EPIC Events in 2017

Highlights of our Heroes Reception: Sponsors:

Chaired by Howard Rich, Rich Products Baillie Lumber
Emceed by John Murphy, Buffalo Bills BlueCross BlueShield of WNY

EPIC honored the following: CannonDesign
Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP
Robert L. Wilson Award for Exceptional
Service and Leadership The Center for Hospice
& Palliative Care
Scott Socha and Eileen Morgan,
Delaware North Valerie C. Cooley
Delaware North
Robert M. Bennett Award Freed Maxick CPAs
for Service to Community William V. Gillmore
Jeffrey Priore, Legal Aid Bureau Independent Health
Johnson Controls
William B. Hoyt Award for Service to
Families KeyBank
LocalEdge
The Children’s Foundation of Erie County M & T Bank
McDermid Financial Group
Eugene T. Reville Award Rich Products
for Service to Education Scott and Karin Socha

Buffalo Urban League

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Celebration Sponsors:
Allcare Family Services

Cornerstone Capital Wealth Management
Lawley Insurance

The Mansion on Delaware Avenue

EPIC Donors in 2017

Foundations: Evans Bancorp, Inc.
Arts Services Initiative Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.
Children's Foundation of Erie County Frontier Central School District
Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies General Motors Tonawanda Engine
Garman Family Foundation Genesis Payroll Processing Group
Grigg Lewis Foundation Hover Networks
JM McDonald Foundation Independent Health Corp.
M & T Bank Foundation John W. Danforth
Many Faces of Mercy Johnson Control Building Solutions
Marks Family Foundation K&R Day Trucking
Mulroy Family Foundation KeyBank
Niagara Area Foundation Kohl's Department Store
Peter C. Cornell Trust Ladies of the Vine
Rite Aid KidCents Foundation Lake Shore Savings Bank
Ruth & Seymour Klein Foundation, Inc. Lawley Insurance Services
Target Foundation Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo
TEGNA Foundation Lehigh Construction Group
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP
Wegmans Family Charitable Foundation LocalEdge
William F. Long Fund Grant Lombardo Funeral Home
M & T Bank
Businesses: McDermid Financial Group
Allcare Family Services Mosey Associates
Anastasi Trucking & Paving National Fuel
Baillie Lumber Northtown Automotive Companies
BlueCross BlueShield of WNY (Health Now) NYS Association of Educational Office Professionals
Borderworx Logistics LLC Phillips Lytle LLP
Buffalo Bills Pratt Collard Advisory Partners LLC
Buffalo Urban League Prentice Office Environments
Cannon Design Razl LLC
Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP Rich Products
The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care Scheid Architectural
Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. Sodexo
Clarence Central School District St. Matthias Episcopal Church
Cohen & Lombardo PC Totally Buffalo
Colvin Cleaners UB Educational Opportunity Center
Cornerstone Capital Wealth Management UBMD Physicians Group
Counsel Financial Vector Consulting
Crown Benefits Group Walsh Duffield Companies, Inc.
Delaware North Companies West Herr Automotive Group
DiFilippo, Flaherty & Steinhaus, PLLC WS Flickinger
DiSanto Design Zavrel & O’Donnell CPAs
Dopkins & Company, LLP

EPIC Donors in 2017

Individuals: Mary Gresham Jeffrey Priore, Esq.
Nancy and Susan Gurney Robert Reed
Robert and Mary Ann Adams Peter Hart Howard & Lyn Rich
Mario and Carol Alaimo Hope Hawkins Shelley Richards
Gwendolyn M. Alegre Jeanie and Dallan Hayes Sandra Rifkin and Michael
Greg Alongi Peter Hentley
Gary Anastasi Mark and Joelle Herskind Mesirov
Catherine Aramini Bruce and Lisann Jacobs Daniel and Laura Rifkin
Gail R. Arthurs Stephen G. and Jane Jepson Brian and Heather Rochford
Bruce C. Baird Jeffrey and Dr. Pamela Johnson Lisa Bloch Rodwin
Brian and Cariann Baker Antoinette Kaiser Richard Romer
Christopher Banks Stephen and Carolyn Kellogg Lauren Schellinger
Melissa Biersbach Alexander and Margaret Kerr Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Schenk
Ronald Biersbach Timothy and Phyllis Konicki William Schmitz
Colin and Debbie Binns Christopher Kulpit Kristin Scholz
Bey Bohannon Lynn and Ricky Langdon Matthew Simon
Kevin Bowman Elizabeth S. Lawrence Julie Skinner
Mike and Sarah Brennan Peggie Lawrie Sharyn Slachetka
Winthrop Buck Andrew Lennartz James and Melanie Smith
Tara N. and Terry Burgess Dr. Kenneth Earl Leonard Scott and Karin Socha
Thomas Calabrese Susan Levy Jane Sorensen
Sara Call John Littlefield Joseph Stabb
Carla Castellani Anthony Lombardo Ryan Stang
Robert Castle Kristin Lonergan Stephen Starnes
Scott and Mary Celani Sue MacDiarmid Patricia Stephens
Patricia Chapin Laura Macy Kelly Stephenson
Lisa Collins Douglas and Jennifer A. Majeski Sherri Tait
Marc Comstock Cynthia Manhard Mr. Jason anf Rev. Ann Tillman
Bernard and Helene Connelly Rick Mariano Robert Tocker
Valerie Cooley Anthony and Kate Masiello Tim and Margaret Toohey
Samuel and Franca Costa Gerald and Brenda McDuffie Art and Michelle Urbanczyk
Victoria Costa Eugene Meeks Michael and Debbie Walsh
Mike & Mary Beth Cucinotta Gregory Merkle Dr. William F. Wieczorek
Mary Beth Debus Jock and Betsy Mitchell Wayne D. Wisbaum
Joseph DiNardo Phyllis and Anthony Morena Frank and Renee Wolf
Phyllis and David Eig Matthew and Eileen Morgan Martin Wolpin
David and Barbara Elias Mark Mortenson Carrie Woodrow
Karen Fenzl Linda Moretuzzo Jacy Woodworth
Dustin Fleming John and Mary Murphy Rebecca Woodworth
William Flickinger Brenda Palmer Albert J. Wright, III
Howard Frank Ann Pappalardo Lynn Wuertzer
Carl and Ann Marie Galante Kathleen Pascoe
William and Linda Gillmore Scott Pazderski
Jean Gilmore Kaitlyn Pettit
Howard B Goldstein, MD George Phillips, Jr.
Christopher and Cameron Linda Powers

Greene

Looking Ahead

In 2017, EPIC was fortunate to receive funding from the Garman Family Foundation to bring
back Just for Teens (JFT), a comprehensive program for pregnant and parenting teens held
in a supportive and non-judgmental environment and is focused on enhancing the skills and
confidence of teens as individuals and as parents.
This research-based program incorporates the
fields of psychology, sociology, education and
social work to provide teens with the skills and
resources they need to be effective and confident
parents, as well as create positive change in their
abilities to impact their children’s development.

Just for Teens is conducted within the schools
during lunch breaks, covering four main areas—
Fundamental Parenting Skills, Bonding With Your
Child, Relationships and Personal Well-being.

The goals for JFT participants include:
 Improve stress management
 Build confidence and self-esteem as a
person and a parent
 Raise awareness of their role in the early
learning and development of their child
 Increase emotional intelligence, which is
linked to academic and economic resiliency and success
 Learn how to balance academic and parenting responsibilities

JFT can improve:
 Bonding with their child
 Confidence and hope for the future
 Developmental outcomes for their children
 Reduce child neglect and abuse
 Improve exposure to community resources

In 2017, we offered JFT at East High School, Lafayette High School, McKinley High School
and PS 197—Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School.

To continue in these schools in 2018-2019, as well as expand into others, we need
your help. Funding is desperately needed. Please consider donating at
www.epicforchildren.org or call 716-332-4122, to “Adopt a School.”

EPIC 2017 Financials

Helping families, schools and communities
raise children to become responsible
and successful adults

1000 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14202
716-332-4100 www.epicforchildren.org


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