BUFFALO, N.Y.; March 21, 2019—Habitat for Humanity Buffalo is getting a boost from two locally headquartered companies. Kaleida Health and M&T Bank have agreed to provide full funding along with employee volunteers to build a home on Winslow Avenue on Buffalo’s East Side.
Construction of the home at 39 Winslow Ave. began in December and is expected to be completed in summer 2019. The 4-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home will include Energy Star appliances, lighting and controls, as well as energy-efficient heating and cool and an electric water heater.
“M&T and Kaleida are ideal partners,” said Habitat Buffalo Executive Director Teresa Bianchi, “Not only have they made this meaningful financial investment in our community, but their leadership and staff have dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours towards building this home for a hardworking family.”
In addition to funding the construction of a home, Kaleida Health and M&T employees, including members of their leadership teams, will step out of the office and onto the construction site at multiple points throughout the duration of the build to provide assistance and support.
“As an organization, Kaleida Health is taking our commitment to care beyond the walls of our hospitals, long-term care facilities and ambulatory sites by partnering with others like M&T Bank and Habitat for Humanity and bringing that care out to the community in a big way,” said Kaleida Health President and CEO Jody Lomeo. “I am proud of the Kaleida Health family for embracing this initiative with a strong commitment to making a more tangible impact across Western New York.”
“We are pleased to join forces with Kaleida Health to help Habitat Buffalo build this home for one of our neighbors,” said M&T Bank Chairman and CEO René Jones. “Access to safe, affordable housing and the opportunity to achieve homeownership are defining characteristics of vibrant communities. Together, we can ensure these vital qualities remain alive and well on Buffalo’s East Side.”
About Kaleida Health
Kaleida Health includes Bradford Regional Medical Center, Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Olean General Hospital. They also operate HighPointe on Michigan and the DeGraff Memorial Hospital skilled nursing facility, plus the nation’s oldest – and original – Visiting Nursing Association. The organization is also affiliated with Great Lakes Health, the entity integrating Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation and the University at Buffalo.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. © 2019 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
About Habitat
Habitat for Humanity Buffalo works to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership. Habitat Buffalo was established by a group of dedicated volunteers, concerned about the lack of affordable homes in the City of Buffalo. Seeking to create homeownership opportunities for low income families, Habitat Buffalo subsidizes the cost of homes through donations (both, monetary and materials) and volunteer labor. Families that purchase homes through our program are required to first contribute at least 400 hours of “sweat equity”, working alongside community volunteers to construct their home and the houses of other families in the program. Once approved, families purchase their homes from Habitat Buffalo by paying a low-interest, affordable monthly mortgage. For more information, visit www.habitatbuffalo.org.
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Media Contacts:
Julia Berchou, M&T Bank
(716) 842-5385
jshanahan@mtb.com
Michael Hughes, Kaleida Health
(716) 983-3731
mhughes@kaleidahealth.org
Teresa Bianchi, Habitat
tbianchi@habitatbuffalo.org