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2007 Awards Luncheon
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Service Award
Nancy M. Blaschak
Nancy M. Blaschak, executive director of American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter, has created programs to help meet the needs of the community above and beyond that of emergency services. No matter what the future might hold, she is busy preparing the Greater Buffalo Chapter to respond to our community's needs in the area of emergency services and preparedness and services to seniors. Nancy's commitment to service extends beyond her work with the local, state and national Red Cross to include Gilda's Club, the Western New York 211 Planning Committee and the United Way Agency Executives Association.
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Diversity Award
Ellen Goldstein
Ellen Goldstein, marketing & community relation's director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, works to bring Judaism into the mainstream community as well as to bring the Jewish community into contact with other religious and ethnic groups. Her commitment to diversity is exemplified through her view of the world; her attitudes towards people of different faiths, races and cultures; and by speaking to both large and small groups at events, conferences, churches and colleges. She believes educating and communicating about different religions and cultures indeed does make a difference. For her efforts, she has received numerous awards from local and national organizations.
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Inclusion Award
Dr. Yvonne Minor Ragan
Dr. Yvonne Minor Ragan, principal of Westminster Community charter School, has developed a national reputation for inspiring educators; discussing critical community issues including parental involvement and student goal setting; and affecting positive and systemic change. She has taken one of Buffalo's lowest performing neighborhood schools and by focusing on student achievement, parent support, and community impact, the school now has been named one of the New York State Education Department's famed "Most Improved School." Through a broad base of support from M&T Bank, staff, parents and students, she was able to capitalize on the school's strength to pursue a conversion process, becoming the Buffalo Public School's first sponsored Charter School.
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Openness to Change Award
Thomas E. Baker
Thomas E. Baker, past president and director, The John R. Oishei Foundation, and first chair of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, joined Buffalo's largest private foundation and quickly distinguished himself for his resourceful response to the needs of the Western New York Community. He believed WNY had a better chance to embrace change and achieve longer-term gains using collaboration and an entrepreneurial approach to the challenges the community faced. Clear thinking, active listening, earnest words, deep caring and never holding himself above anyone else defined his leadership style.
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Leadership Impact Award
On October 30, 2006, Buffalo lost the distinction of being the only upstate city to have tollbooths within its borders. David Swarts, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Carl Paladino, CEO of Ellicott Development Company; and Michael Powers, Esq., Phillips Lytle, had the vision, energy, commitment and ability to work with many others in the community to make this happen. This event has singularly had an enormous psychological and economic impact in our community; it has opened the doors to Buffalo and put $11 million per year back into the WNY economy.
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David Swarts
Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
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Carl Paladino
CEO of Ellicott Development Company
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Michael Powers, Esq.
Phillips Lytle LLP
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2007 Values Awards - 2006 Values Awards - 2005 Values Awards - 2004 Values Awards
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