Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, James Brandys is being honored for his exceptional leadership with Buffalo State College, Burchfield Penny Art Center and several other cultural organizations in WNY. Born and raised in WNY, James has chaired both BSC and Burchfield Penney boards, been active in capital campaigns and is currently a trustee on the BSC College Council and the BPAC board. He will soon be joining the advisory council for the new Television & Film Arts college program.

 Outstanding Young Philanthropist, Sarah Harris is being awarded for her work with the Hospice Foundation of WNY and its annual Hospice Memorial Walk. Starting out as a Girl Scout in kindergarten, she was exposed to many community service events geared to involve girls in helping others. This included sign making for a coat drive, Christmas cookie drive for a women’s shelter and donating her hair to Locks of Love. In 2004, Sarah chose to rally her family and friends to participate in the Annual Hospice Memorial Walk “Ellie’s Entourage” in honor of her Grandmother Ellie. In five years, Ellie’s Entourage has raised $14,181 for the Hospice Memorial Walk.Sarah is a junior attending Lancaster High School where she is also a member of the Academy of Finance and a Varsity Cheerleader. Sarah aspires to be a Pharmacist and hopes to be accepted into the Pharmacy program at the University at Buffalo.

 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation, Valu Home Centers is being honored for its tremendous impact on the community through supporting various initiatives of the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Kids Escaping Drugs, among others. Their culture of philanthropy is incorporated in their business plan, to do what they can to give Western New Yorkers a better life and to make WNY a better place to live. Valu Home Centers, a Buffalo based, family-owned, regional home center chain has been proudly serving the do-it-yourselfer since 1967 with 41 stores and more than 1,000 employees in Western and Central NY and Northwestern PA.

 Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation, The Children’s Guild Foundation is being recognized for its incredible commitment to Child and Family Services, allowing them to continue providing innovative and non-traditional services to the special needs children they serve. Since their beginnings in 1910, when a small group of women opened a home for disabled children, the Foundation has expanded their scope, refined their methods and grown their resource. They have gone from helping seven children in a small group home to helping countless children through large-scale funding of programs, initiatives, services and research projects. Over the last two decades, The Children’s Guild Foundation has contributed in excess of $20 million to the most promising programs and projects spearheaded by nonprofit organizations throughout the eight counties of WNY.

 Outstanding Small Businesses, ShoeFly and Clutch is being recognized for theirsupport and involvement in the WNY community. Owner, Sue Marafino, has played an invaluable role in the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter’s annual fundraiser, the BASH and is the creator of the annual .5K Stiletto Run benefiting the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.   In 2002, ShoeFly was born, and with the demand for more product categories Clutch Accessories opened up across the street in 2006. Located in the Elmwood Village, both ShoeFly and Clutch, have received recognition from Artvoice Magazine and its “Best of Buffalo Awards”, naming ShoeFly Best Shoe Store since 2005 and Clutch Best Accessories store in 2009 and 2010.

Outstanding Philanthropic Media, Cumulus Media (formerly Citadel Broadcasting) is being recognized forits charitable giving initiatives throughout WNY. Cumulus Media-Buffalo is comprised of 97 Rock, 103.3 The Edge, Classic Hits 104.1, Swing 1270, The Buffalo Bills Radio Network, and the NFL Buffalo Jills here in Buffalo. The stations have supported countless charitable causes over the years including Roswell Park and The Ride for Roswell, The Make-a-Wish Foundation, The Buffalo City mission and many others. 

 The 2011 Earle Hannel Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award will be presented to Linda Kahn, thecurrent Director of Special Campaigns at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, for her exemplary fundraising and leadership skills. Linda hasbeen working as a development professional for over 25 years. Linda’s community involvement includes serving as an officer on the Child and Family Services Foundation Board, a trustee of the Foundation at Park School, a member of AFP WNY and the Planned Giving Consortium of WNY.