Buffalo
Promise Neighborhood is a dynamic, integrated team of engaged professionals —
an extension of M&T Bank's longstanding dedication to strengthening our
community — focused on revitalization through education. We are driven by the
belief that education and opportunity are intrinsically connected. When we talk
about promise, we're talking about our commitment to exceptional support that
improves education outcomes. But we're also talking about the promise that's
realized when opportunities are equal and accessible.
We
recognize that when parents and children have the opportunity to succeed,
families and the community around them are able to thrive, as well.
Two-generation programs help parents gain new skills while their children
receive high-quality education.
The
vision began in 1993, when M&T Bank Chairman Robert Wilmers was frustrated
with the state of public education in Buffalo. He had a radical idea: what if
M&T Bank adopted one struggling school, invested in it, and cultivated an
environment of high expectations and hopes? M&T partnered with Buffalo
Public School 68, which would eventually become Westminster Community Charter
School. In 2018, Westminster celebrates the legacy of Mr. Wilmers and 25 years
of partnership with M&T Bank.
· Managing Westminster Community Charter School and PS 80 Highgate Heights
· Opening the first Children's Academy, a $3.5M Early Childhood Learning
Center and building a second one at Gerard Place, slated to open in 2018
· Winning a $5M Annie E. Casey Foundation Grant for a six-year,
Two-Generation Parent Achievement Zone (PAZ) program, in collaboration with
strong area colleges and Belmont Housing Resources of WNY, designed to help
families succeed
· Developing the Buffalo Promise Scholars Program, which pays full tuition
for students attending private high schools
· Partnering with Belmont Housing to renovate ten 14215 houses
· 100% of our first group of BPN Scholars graduated from Buffalo's top
private high schools and are heading to college
· 70% of our 8th graders are accepted into Buffalo's best high
schools
· In 2018, our graduates enrolled in private high schools maintained an
overall GPA of 84%
· Our students have an average attendance rate of 94%, the best in Buffalo
Public Schools
· Learning and growth extend beyond the classroom through hands-on enrichment
programs, clubs, extracurriculars, vocational experiences, after school
activities, and Saturday Academy programming for families
· The PAZ program has engaged more than 300 parents and families in financial
education, career development, parenting strategy workshops, one-on-one
coaching, and community building
· 167 PAZ families participated in coaching, achieving at least one of these
goals: gaining full-time employment; completing post-secondary degrees; paying
off debt; improving credit; establishing family reading routines; improving
child's school attendance
· 100% of PAZ kids are Kindergarten-ready
24 Westminster Ave. Buffalo, NY 14215 phone : (716) 816-3450 FAX: (716) 838-7458
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