Have you heard the Tower Foundation’s origin story? It has now been freshly told by Cassandra Gainer in the recent issue of Traffic East, a Western New York journal celebrating entrepreneurial and creative energy. Gainer interviewed daughters Mollie Byrnes and Cynthia Doyle in telling the story of Peter and Elizabeth Tower’s life together and how they came … Continued
Massachusetts Advocates for Children is working to remove the barriers that exist in education to create equitable opportunities for children and youth to learn, grow, and thrive. The organization focuses its advocacy efforts on children and youth who face significant barriers, inequities, and/or discrimination because of their economic status, disability, race, ethnicity, culture, or immigration … Continued
Based in Northampton, The Center for Public Representation (CPR) is a nationally recognized legal advocacy organization that designs and implements systematic reform and initiatives to ensure people with disabilities can live in the community and exercise choice in all aspects of their lives. The organization is committed to equality, diversity, and social justice. The Center’s … Continued
The WBFO Disabilities Desk reports on stories involving and impacting the disability community in Western New York and Southern Ontario. WBFO broadcasts from its studios in downtown Buffalo. The Tower Foundation is the sole funder of the Disabilities Desk. Emyle Watkins grew up with a dad who is disabled, and at an early age saw … Continued
Through advocacy, education, and counseling, teen immigrants connected to Bridges from Borders are exposed to community-based tools that build confidence, provide a sense of belonging, and empower them to learn and grow on their journey toward mental wellbeing. As immigrants living in Western New York, these teens have some things in common; however, the intersection … Continued
Photo: Interns on a field day collecting live specimens at local tidepools. For completion of their year-long internships, the interns were awarded a hat, a certificate of service award, and a Nature Hero pin. Tower Foundation grants awarded in 2019 and 2021 have helped the Massachusetts Audubon Society (Mass Audubon) pilot a program that creates … Continued
Right now, in Western New York, if you are an adolescent with disabilities and are experiencing a behavioral crisis, there is nowhere local for you to receive care. Neurobehavioral units are dedicated to the assessment and treatment of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have severe behavioral problems, yet Buffalo … Continued
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the growing mental health crisis for too many young people. Even before the pandemic, depression, anxiety, and suicidality rates were sharply rising among teens in America. In 2019, rates of adolescents reporting a major depressive episode were up 60 percent from about ten years prior.[1] Articles appear in the media … Continued
The Tower Foundation is shocked and saddened by the senseless mass shooting that took place in Buffalo, New York. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families as they grieve the tragic loss of their loved ones. We are also deeply concerned about our community. Our staff members live in Buffalo and are still … Continued
The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) is assisting in the transformation of communities by preparing social impact leaders with essential skills and resources to effectively advance social justice and expand their organizations. Since its founding in 2007, INP has set out to improve historic racial and gender gaps in leadership and to ensure the social … Continued
