Organization Name: 
Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D.
Center for the Visually Impaired

Notes

Contact Person(s)

Agency Headquarters:

1170 Main Street

Buffalo , NY   14209

Phone:  (716) 882-1025  Ext 210

Fax:  882-5577

Email:  dgipson@olmstedcenter.org

Service

Information

Mission Statement

·  The Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired, (formerly the Blind

    Association of Western New York ), is a private, not-for-profit agency that serves blind and

    Visually impaired men, women, and children residing within the eight counties of Western New

    York .  Since its inception in 1907, the Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired has been

     committed to helping people with vision impairments lead productive, independent, lives.

Meetings, Programs, & Services

·  Rehabilitation Services, such as daily living skills, communication, orientation, and mobility

    training.

·  Visually Impaired Preschool, School,and Home-Based Services for Children.

·  Employment Services, including aptitude and interest testing, placement assistance, manufacturing

    services, and the National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service, a program for blind and

    visually handicapped adults for careers in the hospitality industry.

·  Senior Vision Services.

·  Resource Center .

·  Low vision clinics at eight locations throughout Western New York .

·  Guild Care-an adult day healthcare program in Buffalo and Niagara Falls .

·  Independent housing facilities.

National Affiliation

·  Fully accredited member of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and

    Visually Impaired.

·  Designated agency of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County.

Members and Criteria

·  Reaching over 10,000 individuals each year.

Organization Name:
Enterprising Women:
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Notes

Contact Person(s)

Melinda Whitehead, Events Manager

Buffalo Niagara Partnership

665 Main Street, Suite 200

Buffalo , NY   14203-1487

Phone:  (716) 852-7100

Service

Information

Mission Statement

·  The Buffalo Niagara Partnership Enterprising Women have developed a series of programs

    designed to help female executives respond to the growing demands and challenges faced in their

    personal and professional lives.  The committee enhances its members' professional development

    and networking success through informative sessions presented by dynamic speakers who are

    specialists in their fields.

Meetings, Programs, & Services

·  Six educational seminars are scheduled between October and May, primarily breakfast meetings.

·  Monthly meeting for the Steering Committee held at the Partnership offices.

·  Sponsors a Scholarship for Athena of Western New York .

·  Enterprising Women host an annual Networking Social in May.

National Affiliation

·  None.

Members and Criteria

·  To participate on the steering committee, a women's firm must be a member of the Buffalo/Niagara

    Partnership (The Chamber of Commerce for Western New York ). 

·  All female business representatives are invited to attend Enterprising Women’s Programs.

Organization Name:
Erie County Commission 
on the Status of Women

Notes

Contact Person(s)

Clotilde Perez- Bode Dedecker, Executive Director

Rath Building

Room 1655

95 Franklin Street

Buffalo , NY   14202

Phone:  (716) 858-8307

Fax: (716) 858-8307

Email: dedeckec@erie.gov

          Service

               Information

Mission Statement

·  The Commission on the Status of  Women works to assure that the women of Erie County have

    full participation on the issues that have an impact on their lives.

Meetings, Programs, & Services

·  The purpose of the Commission is to promote gender equity in Erie County through a program of

    advocacy that provides public education and information; makes recommendations for

    coordination, consolidation, or expansion of services for women; conducts legislative and policy

    analyses, and promotes linkages with women's equity networks.

·  Develop and manage the online TALENT BANK for the placement of women on public, not-for-

    profit and for-profit boards, access is available through our website.

·  Support a coordinated community response to family violence in Erie County .

·  Facilitate the development of community-based pilot programs to gain seats for women on public

    sector boards.

·  Provide the public with information, publications and forums on issues of concern to women.

·  Convene the Women’s Action Coalition (WAC) established by the Commission, to provide a

    forum for more than 100 local women’s organizations, which emphasizes networking,

    collaboration and legislative advocacy.

National Affiliation

·  National Association of Women's Commission.

Members and Criteria

·  The 15 members are appointed to three year terms by the minority and majority of the Erie County

    Legislature and the County Executive .  The Commission's structure as a government department

    allows the staff, commission members and volunteers to have access to and establish working

    relationships with Erie County administrators, legislators, and policy makers.

·  Volunteers welcome.