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The Daemen College Associates Community Service Awards Honor
The Daemen College Associates Community Service Awards Honor
Jerald M. Stoddard, Kathleen Houlihan, Sister M. Johnice, CSSF, Frank Budwey
October 18, 2009
The Daemen College Associates 2009 Community Service Awards honored Jerald M. Stoddard, M&T Bank (retired); Kathleen Houlihan, Buffalo Public School District; Sister M. Johnice, CSSF; Frank Budwey, owner, Budwey’s Supermarkets, during ceremonies on Sunday, October 18, 2009, at Brookfield Country Club, 5120 Shimerville Road, Clarence, NY.
Jerald M. Stoddard
Jerald M. Stoddard, and his wife, Jane, have been residents of the Town of Amherst for over 50 years, and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September 2010. Jerry worked for M&T Bank for 35 years, retiring in 2004 after a successful career. Following his retirement, he joined Daemen College as Major Gifts Officer, with a primary responsibility to solicit financial support from alumni, faculty, and the general public for the Daemen College Research & Information Commons.
During his banking career, Jerry attended West Point, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Virginia School of Banking. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree through the University of Buffalo. Jerry was, additionally, a member of the fund raising committee for Daemen's Business Building.
Jerry presently is serving on a number of local boards in Western New York. They include the Evans National Bank; Town of Amherst Meals on Wheels; Trustee of and past President of the Amherst Museum; Trustee of MusicalFare Theatre at Daemen College; and the Daemen Associates.
His past board or committee memberships include: Studio Arena-Board Member; Erie County Preservation Board; Town of Amherst Sesquicentennial-Committee; Niagara Frontier Rehabilitation Center-Board Member; Buffalo Suicide Prevention-Board Member; Town of Amherst Chamber of Commerce; and Treasurer of Harlem/Kensington Business Association Rotary.
Kathleen Houlihan
Kathleen Houlihan has been teaching for the Buffalo Public School District for the past twenty six years. She received her B.S. degree, in Mental Retardation and Elementary Education, from Buffalo State College. She was subsequently awarded her M.S. degree, in Exceptional Education of Culturally and Linguistically Different Students, also from Buffalo State College.
For most of the past twenty-six years, Ms. Houlihan has taught at Grover Cleveland International High School. She has been the advisor for the very popular International Club which promotes and celebrates the diversity in the City of Buffalo. This club provides many students the opportunity to make new friends, while participating in field trips and activities throughout the year.
Ms. Houlihan was instrumental in the development of the Dale Carnegie Youth Leadership Program for immigrant and refugees students. She also coordinated many activities involving Daemen College and the international students at Grover Cleveland High School, including a community mural project and tutoring programs for students. She facilitated a CEPA Gallery Art project on citizenship involving the international students and community.
In May, 2008, Ms. Houlihan was awarded the Daemen College Department of Social Work Humanitarian Award in recognition of and appreciation for her efforts on behalf of Daemen College, and the International Community of Buffalo.
Sister M. Johnice CSSF.
Sister M. Johnice received her early years of education in Felician-taught schools on the East Side of Buffalo. She received a Master's Degree in Elementary Education, and taught in various schools in WNY. Sister also continued her studies for a Master's Degree in Moral Pastoral Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.
In 1985, Sister was assigned to the newly-founded Response to Love Center, opened to serve the needs of poverty-stricken individuals and families within the East Side of Buffalo. The Center continues today as a haven for the needy and a place to teach people the values of self-worth, dignity and respect. Currently, the Center operates a dining site, food pantry and thrift shops, along with other programs. Other programs include holiday meals; counseling and crisis services; summer youth poverty awareness experiences; and a Holiday Food and Toy Drive. GED and Computer classes offer a high school diploma, opportunity to learn office skills and provide future job placement. Responding to present day needs of Veterans, a Career and Training Program was recently launched; also newly added is the Sister's Care Center, providing access to health care.
Sister continues to bring a willing and dedicated spirit to efforts such as Chaplain and Counselor at Ground Zero in New York City; the Comforter at the bedside of a homeless dying person; an Advocate in the Courtroom; and a First Responder to a fire. Her vision is to encourage self-sufficiency, and improve the lives of the people in her community, making it a safe and prosperous place to live.
Frank Budwey
Budwey’s Supermarkets is a tale of a local family who made good, and a true-to-life David and Goliath drama. In an era of super-sized stores, Budwey’s Supermarkets is a successful family owned-and-operated grocery store, with two locations in Western New York, 400 employees, and a significant community presence.
Budwey’s was founded in 1922 by the grandmother of today’s president, as a North Tonawanda deli. Frank’s father took the business over several years later, and helped by his wife, grew the business to four 3,000 square foot markets. After returning from serving in the U.S. Army, Frank worked hard, and determined that, as times changed, and competition grew, he would also need to change if he was to remain in business. And, he did, eventually beating the odds – and the largest wholesaler in the country – proving, in the process, that he could generate sales despite the wholesaler’s efforts to prevent him. Over more than 20 years, events took place that included the bankruptcy of his wholesaler in 1993; the sale of his store; a move into real estate; a tough battle with the largest wholesaler in the country; and, eventually, re-entering the grocery business to achieve the success he enjoys today.
Through it all, Frank Budwey has always taken corporate responsibility seriously. He and his family have always played an active role in bettering their surrounding community, because, as he says, “they have always supported us.” His philanthropic and volunteer efforts garnered him the “Citizen of the Year of the Tonawandas Award” in 2005; he is also very active in the Variety Club.
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