ANNUAL

REPORT

2018

Hello EPIC Friends and Supporters! 

We are pleased to present the 2018 Annual Report. Thanks to our valued partnership

with each of you, EPIC made considerable progress in advancing our strategic vision

and delivering quality programs.

 

With a focus on empowering the adults in children’s lives to support their children’s

growth and development, EPIC relaunched Ready, Set, Read! with new children’s

programming, co-presented our 2nd Annual Family Engagement Conference, and

celebrated 30 years of programming in Central Hudson. Through all EPIC programs, we

placed strong emphasis on the growth of family knowledge, confidence and capacity,

and advanced important mission-driven partnerships including the groundbreaking

Human Service Collaborative efforts to build-out shared space in Buffalo’s redeveloping

Broadway neighborhood.  Proud to be tapped by area foundations, we also began

work on the GetSET organizational development program, and successfully grew two

cornerstone fund development events. 

We supported new parents with programs designed to address their personal growth

and parenting needs through our Incredible Years program. EPIC continued parenting

programs in Niagara County and provided Car Seat Safety events in both Niagara and

Erie Counties. We implemented early care family engagement trainings with

Community Action Organization to cultivate strong relationships and communication

between child care staff and families. We increased public participation in our

Storytime at Canalside summer series where hundreds of families enjoyed guest

readers and interactive learning activities with their children. As EPIC continues to

develop and deliver programs, we 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 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, thank you for your commitment to ensuring that every

child has a strong start and a promising future.

Pam Johnson EPIC Board Chair

Tara N. Burgess Executive Director

OurLeadersL E T T E R F R O M

StaffM E E T E P I C

AdministrationTara N. Burgess - Executive Director

CJ Banks - Director of Parenting and Youth ServicesJulanne Durkin - Staff Accountant

Jennifer A. Majeski - Chief Financial OfficerMarvel Miller - Administrative Assistant

Manuella Mwihemuka - Executive AssistantJamie Rackl - Director of Family Engagement and Professional Development

Mary Simpson - Development and Marketing Manager

WNY Staff Ronald Dixon - Data and Intake Coordinator

Laurie Ferris - Facilitator CoordinatorAdrienne Garr - Program CoordinatorRenee Perry - FIT Program Manager

Susanna Schenk - Family Engagement SpecialistDorothy Turchiarelli - Program Coordinator

Central Hudson Staff:Juana Billy - Program Coordinator

Shannon Daniel - Program CoordinatorPhyllis Eig - Regional Director

Jane Sorensen - Program Manager

WNY Facilitators:Tonnalee Batchelor Rosalind Campbell

Rachel Dah Cheryl Dublin

Dixie FarrRanda Hamayel

Nicole Hill

Sandra HoganKandice Hood Alicia Hutton

Shannon JohnsKaren KelchinDavid Lewis

(Car Seat Safety Instructor)

Nancy Mariani

Purnima MohanMary Pachla (Senior facilitator)

James PetersonSabrina Ray

Michael RiveraDaniel Scholz Lekya Slaughter

Central Hudson Facilitators:

Patricia StephensYvette Veira

Sherman Webb-MiddlebrooksMichael Williams Trueletta WilliamsDr. Marvin Wilson

Jessica Zaidel

Lynn Baron Ariel De La Cruz Omnia Elghaly Kathleen Kreiter

Elisa Mendels Jennifer Mitchell

Chrystelle Okwo-WadeMartine Swerdling

Board of Directors2 0 1 8 E P I C

Officers:Dr. Pamela Johnson,Ph.D, Chair

Ready to Learn at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Frederick Zwierlein, CPA, Vice-ChairFreed Maxick & Battaglia

Melissa Biersbach, CPA, Treasurer

Local Edge

Sam Costa, SecretaryBaillie Lumber

Directors:Brian Baker

Delaware North Valerie Cooley, Ph.D

Educator(Retired)Nina Heard

General Motors

Sean KeenanWalsh Duffield

Maureen Lehsten, CPAHospice Buffalo John MurphyBuffalo Bills

Brian Rochford KeyBank

Craig SpencerRich Products

Stephen Yonaty, Esq.Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP

Committees:

Ex-Officio:Sandra Rifkin

Baby Expo (B) - Finance (F) - Development & Special Events (D) - Marketing (M) - Program (P)

Linda Croglia - PTara Erwin - M

Nancy Gaglione - DTiffany Lankes - P

Samantha Keller - FAnna Michotek - BCarol Murphy - D

Brenda Palmer - MChristine Pilozzi – M, DChristie Panagakis - P

Rakee Rai - MHoward Rich – DDana Roman – B

Richard Romer - F

Dr. Pamela Johnson,Ph.D,(as chair, serves on all committees)

STATISTICS

Youth Services29%

Parenting25.2%

Family Engagement22.9%

Professional development22.9%

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT &PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

Family engagement is a

shared responsibility between the

community, organizations, families, and

schools regarding supporting children’s

learning, development, and academic

success. Effective family

engagement cuts across and reinforces

learning in the multiple settings where

children learn- at home, in

prekindergarten programs, in school, in

after school programs, in faith-based

institutions, and in the community.

PARENTING AND YOUTHSERVICES

EPIC’s parenting programs are all grounded in

current research and utilize evaluation and

research designs to illustrate the success to

demonstrate effectiveness in creating positive

change in parents’ abilities to impact their

children’s development. While EPIC focuses

primarily on parents, we also offer workshops in

developing character in students, Pre-K through

8th grade; and social, emotional and life skills

workshops for teens..

Impacting Over

Individuals& Families

30 Years& Counting...In 2018, EPIC celebrated 30 years of

service to children and families in the

Central Hudson region of New York State.

Agencies, Schools and Partners:2 0 1 8 E P I C

BuffaloNiagara/Western New YorkArt Services InitiativeBest Self Behavioral HealthBlueCross BlueShieldBoys N Girls Club of BuffaloBuffalo Pre-Natal Peri-NatalBuffalo Public School - South Park High SchoolCheektowaga Central School DistrictChildren's Foundation of Erie CountyCommunity Action Organization of WNYErie County Department of Mental HealthGarman Family FoundationGeneral MotorsGloria ParksJM McDonald Kelly for Kids FoundationLiberty PartnershipM&T BankNiagara Area FoundationNiagara County Community CollegeNiagara County Department of Social ServicesNorthwest BankNorthwest Buffalo Community CenterOffice of Alcohol Substance Abuse ServicesOffice of Child & Family ServicesPeter C. CornellRich ProductsRite-Aid FoundationSisters of MercyState FarmTegnaUnited Way of Buffalo & Erie CountyWegmansWNY Women's Foundation Central HudsonCounty of RocklandCounty of SullivanMonticello Central School DistrictMy Brother's KeeperRockland County - Emergency ShelterSullivan County Youth BureauTargetUnited Way of Rockland CountyNYS Office of Children and Family Services

Beyond NYSReady at Five, MDMaryland Department of Education, MD Lorrain County Board of Mental Health, OH CoalitionsAfterschool Network of WNYBPS Parent SummitCare Management CoalitionClinical and Translational Science InitiativeConnecting the DotsHealthy Moms, Healthy Babies Human Services CollaborativeLockport Family Focus GroupMEB (Mental, Emotional, Behavioral Health)CommitteeNY Education TrustNYS Family Engagement CoalitionRaising New York & Infancy Leadership CircleUpstate NY CBO Consortium West Side Promise NeighborhoodWNY - Birth to Eight CoalitionWNY - Px 21 Prevention CoalitionWNY - Muslim & Immigrant CommunityCollaborative

Donors2 0 1 8 E P I C

Scott Celani and Mary Friona-CelaniMargaret ChapinPat ChapinAnthony & Julie Cimorcelli, Jr.William B. CollinsCollins & Collins AttorneysWNY Combined Federal CampaignComDocRoger CominskyCommunity Foundation for GreaterBuffaloCommunity Services for Every1Marc W. ComstockMilherst ConstructionValerie CooleyJudith M. CostaSam CostaVictoria CostaJean CovelliTim and Cheryl CristCrown Benefits Group, IncJohn W DanforthMary Lou De La PlantMary Beth DebusMark DeinhartDelaware North Companies, Inc.Constance DesmaraisDiSanto DesignDNC Parks & Resorts, Inc.Tina DonovanAmy DowningEvelyn DrankhanKathleen DysonRoisin EganEnvisions MarketingDeborah Erwin and David WeeksESC ServicesEvans BancorpCheryl FarwellJames FleckensteinFreed Maxick CPAs, P.C.Brenda FreedmanGary FreedmanFriends of Judge Lisa Bloch RodwinNancy GaglioneGentle Parenting InstituteKatherine GerardGibson, McAskill & CrosbyWilliam and Linda GillmoreHoward B. Goldstein, MDSheilah GoodmanLindsay Gorman

ABC AmegaGregory AlongiMark Alvut and Cynthia SallersonAmazon SmileAmerican DND, Inc.Gary AnastasiDeena AnthonyCatherine AraminiFred ArcherGail R. ArthursJeffrey AshJames BadgleySuzanne BadgleyPaul BahrBaillie LumberBruce C. BairdBrian and Carriann BakerAnita BallowBank of AmericaChristopher BanksLeah BartloMary and Guy BaxRobert C. BellJ Suzan BenMr. and Mrs. Norbert BennettBIA Consulting ServicesRonald BiersbachMelissa BiersbachColin and Debbie BinnsBirthing Center of BuffaloColleen BlinkoffKathy BradleyGary BraunscheidelMary Brennan-TaylorBryant & StrattonKim BuckBuffalo Bills, LLCBuffalo Teachers Federation, Inc.Buffalo Urban LeagueShelby BurgessTara N. and Terry BurgessTyler BurgessMelissa BurkeJoseph CalMegan CallahanMaribel CancelCannon DesignCannon Heyman & Weiss, LLPCAO HeadstartSam and Michelle CapizziCarla CastellaniCatholic Health System

Donors2 0 1 8 E P I C

Jeff MartinJacob MassakerGrace McKenzieJames McMahonSherri McMahonGregory MerkleMichael Mesirov and Sandra RifkinDonald and Doris MeyerJeff MeyerJill MeyerJames MichaudJoseph P. MiglioreDavid MillerDaniel P. MiskoAnthony L. Moretta, Jr. and JustineDavenportMatthew and Eileen MorganMichele MornelliRon MornelliMulroy Family FoundationDennis P. and Carol MurphyBetty MurphyDorothy MurphyJohn MurphyKathleen E. MurphyMutual of America Life InsuranceCompanyAriana NaumovskiNetwork for GoodKristen NeubauerNiagara Frontier Automobile DealersAssociationBarbara NucherenoAnn PappalardoMary Patterson and Colleen DuffyScott PazderskiPhillips Lytle, LLPChristine PilozziNancy PrayPrentice Office EnvironmentsProgram Savvy ConsultingJody QuinnAmanda RayburgMarybeth ReedColleen P. ReedyRich ProductsHoward and Lyn RichShelley RichardsTracey RichardsDaniel and Laura RifkinSandra B. RifkinHarold Roberge

JoAnn GramlichCecilia GrasserCameron & Christopher GreeneMary GreshamGeraldine GrossmanJeanette GuashChristine GuraLynette HameisterNicole A. HammJeanie and Allan HayesHealthNowNina HeardHearst, LocalEdge DivisionCarla HengererBarbara HertelChristine HerzogKenneth P. HouseknechtHover NetworksIndependent Health Corp.Pedram JohariMr. Jeffrey and Dr. Pamela JohnsonRuth JohnsonAntoinette KaiserKaleida HealthMary Ellen KatherSean KeenanStephen and Carolyn KelloggAlexander and Margaret KerrKey BankKey BankDennis M. KimballPeter KingKohl's Department StoreSoda KuczkowskiNorman and Catherine KurczynskiLadies of the VineChristine LaurienzoLawley ServicesElizabeth S. LawrencePeggie LawrieThomas H. LehstenLincoln ArchivesKelly LinnanTara LinnanM&T BankKristen MacNeilLaura MacyDouglas and Jennifer MajeskiTammy MangusManitoba CorporationThe Mansion on DelawareRick Mariano

Donors2 0 1 8 E P I C

VisualeyesDonna WakeleySandra WallaceJames and Beth WalshWalsh Duffield Inc. Co.Mary Ellen WeberWebster SzanyiWest Herr Automotive GroupCharles and Karen WilsonJacy WoodworthRebecca WoodworthAlbert J. Wright, IIILynn WuertzerChuck and Maura YatesJennifer YaxShannon YeagerStephen YonatyJohn and Deanna ZakZavrel & O’Donnell CPA'sRyan ZebroAllison ZulawskiFrederick Zwierlein

Augusta RochebrunBrian RochfordRichard RomerJohn RuppMartha RuppRuth & Seymour Klein Foundation, Inc.Anne RyanRebecca SalernoJames SandsTim SardiniaKevin SchellingerSusanna and Tom SchenkJames SchmigelKen ScholzHoward ShankSandra ShankJudith SheltonEva and Todd SiposSherry SlazakScott and Karin SochaJohn SomersGary and Margaret SonnenbergerStephen A. SorokaCarolyn and Thomas SpearsCraig SpencerState Employees Federated AppealNiagara FrontierPatricia StephensRonald and Barbara StrzyzJean SvobodaDavid SwartsSusan M. SwartsMichael SzczygielTonya TaberLauren TennesThe Center for Hospice & PalliativeCareThe Hamburg Hospitality Group dbaCarte BlancheThe Little-Kittinger Foundation, Inc.The Peter and Elizabeth C. TowerFoundationJulie ThomasTops Markets, LLCTowne Automotive GroupJeanne TribuzziUnited Way of Buffalo & Erie CountyMichelle UrbanczykJacqueline and Thomas VannerDavid M. and Terry W. VaughanNancy VeranoNichole Virag

Financials2 0 1 8 E P I C