KeyBank Invests Over $1 Billion in Buffalo and Western New York for Community Development
A $450,000 donation from the KeyBank Foundation will benefit two organizations dedicated to combating food insecurity in East Buffalo. This funding was revealed during the launch of the third season of the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market, which operates every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Delavan-Grider Community Center, located at 877 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to sufficient food for an active, healthy life. The KeyBank Foundation's contribution will support two organizations known for their efforts in improving access to nutritious food in East Buffalo:
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to sufficient food for an active, healthy life. The KeyBank Foundation's contribution will support two organizations known for their efforts in improving access to nutritious food in East Buffalo:
- Buffalo Go Green will receive $300,000. This will fund the Holistic Wellness & Agricultural Education Campus, including the Fruits & Vegetables Prescription Program (FVRx), which supplies fresh produce to low-income individuals and families year-round. Additionally, it will support nutrition education and cooking classes in their new commercial kitchen at Manhattan and East Amherst Streets. These classes will be broadcast live and available on Buffalo Go Green’s YouTube and social media channels. The organization also provides fresh produce for the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market, and this funding will help sustain the market and keep food affordable.
- The Independent Health Foundation's “Healthy Options at Home” (HOaH) Program will receive $150,000. This program, which began in 2020 to address heightened food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, now operates year-round and has served over 1,500 families. The program offers four-week sessions where families receive essential cooking tools, weekly meal kits with fresh produce, and access to recipe videos by local chefs, all at no cost. The funds will cover ingredients, kitchen supplies, delivery costs, educational materials, and video production. With KeyBank Foundation's support, HOaH aims to continue reducing food insecurity by providing nutritious food and education to foster healthy eating and cooking habits.
“As we begin another season of the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market, we are excited to deepen our investment in East Buffalo by providing funding to these organizations working to make fresh, healthy food more accessible and bring more activity and excitement to the Delavan-Grider community,” said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo Market President. “Buffalo Go Green and the Independent Health Foundation are doing important work that transforms lives and strengthens communities. Their work symbolizes what community and collaboration is all about.”
“We are grateful for this investment from the KeyBank and for their leadership and support with the Delavan-Grider Farmers Market,” said Allison DeHonney, CEO of Buffalo Go Green. “This partnership is bringing transformative resources and change to this community. We are excited to work with KeyBank to bring resources that improve lives and health, and make a difference in our community.”
“Our mission is to meet people where they are, bringing them the resources needed to create and maintain healthy lifestyles,” said Carrie Meyer, executive director of the Independent Health Foundation. “We’ve heard time and again from our participants that the Healthy Options at Home program helps families feel more confident about cooking healthy meals on a budget. They learn new skills together while trying out recipes that are tasty, healthy, and inexpensive to make, setting the stage for family dinners that nourish bodies and nurture relationships. Last year, we were able to provide the ingredients and education to prepare more than 8,000 meals through this program. We are extremely grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for this grant, which will enable us to bring Healthy Options at Home to more families in our community.”
Since 2017, KeyBank has invested over $1 billion in Buffalo and Western New York, backing affordable housing and community development initiatives, offering small business and home loans to low-to-moderate income individuals and communities, and engaging in transformative philanthropic efforts.
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