Refugee Partnership fundraising deadline extended to Saturday
The Refugee Partnership of WNY extended its fundraising campaign deadline to midnight Saturday, having raised $1.19 million toward its $1.5 million goal.
Lauren Maguire, vice president of development and community engagement for Jewish Family Services, said they extended the initial 30-day period because a number of community fundraisers are still ongoing. They wanted to give them enough time to make sure those donations counted.
'We're blown away by the community's support,' she added.
The five organizations behind the fundraiser are Jewish Family Services of WNY, Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Journey's End Refugee Services, the International Institute of Buffalo, and Jericho Road Community Health Center.
Funding will go toward supporting 731 refugees that arrived in WNY in the 90 days before the fundraiser started. Programming offered will help get them more acclimated to life in the United States.
The refugees arrived from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and had been vetted and screened more intensely than other immigrants. Of that number, 75 were settled in Niagara Falls.
'Some have waited decades in refugee camps for their turn to find safety and security in the U.S.,' Maguire said.
The campaign was launched after the U.S. Department of State froze funds for the Reception and Placement program, which compensates refugee agencies for how many people they work with. The Trump Administration also suspended refugee acceptance back in January. These organizations went through layoffs due to cuts in federal funding.
Maguire said they are focused on settling these 731 refugees and getting them on the path to self-sufficiency. They do not anticipate any changes in federal policy that would allow more refugees to come into the country.
They are working with partners in state government to get more funding through the state's Enhanced Services to Refugees Program so they have the capacity to help those already in the region.
'(Buffalo's) population grew in the last census due to refugees,' Maguire said, noting they have contributed to growing the region's economy and culture.
On top of all the individual donations received, foundations and businesses that contributed include the Western New York Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, M&T Bank, Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, Patrick P. Lee Foundation, and the Tower Foundation.
Donations can still be made online through www.refugeepartnership.org or by making checks payable to the Jewish Family Services of WNY.
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