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The Daemen College Associates Community Service Awards to Honor Clement Eckert, Susan Grelick, Diane Rowe
Please join the Daemen College Associates in honoring Clement Eckert, retired president and CEO, Food bank of WNY; former Amherst Town Supervisor Susan Grelick; and Diane Rowe, chief professional officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, on Sunday, April 27, 2008, 12:00 Noon at the Westwood Country Club 772 North Forest Road, Williamsville, New York 14221
For tickets and additional information, contact Ed and Martha McMahon, Chairpersons at 876-0781 or Paula Justin at 839-8212 or pjustin@daemen.edu.
Tickets are $40.00 Individual/$400 for a table of 10. RSVP by April 15, 2008 is requested.
Susan Grelick is an attorney, who has served as Amherst Town Supervisor and Amherst Town Clerk. Born and raised in Western New York, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Union College. She holds Master’s Degrees in information science; American economic history; and business administration.
After obtaining her Juris Doctor Law Degree, and prior to entering public service, Susan worked as an attorney for two major Buffalo law firms. She is well known for her strong commitment to public service, and currently serves President of the Buffalo Amherst Business and Professional Women’s Association, and Vice president of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra Association. She has been involved with civic and community organizations throughout Western New York for many years, and serves on the boards of directors of Jewish Family Services; Amherst Museum; Amherst Youth Foundation; and the ECC Library Advisory Council.
In addition, Susan was founder of a number of community organizations, among them (but not limited to) the Amherst Diversity Coalition; Celebrate Amherst Arts; Supervisor’s Youth Council; Amherst Conservation, Parks, and Recreation Foundation; and the Annual Town of Amherst September 11 Remembrance Ceremonies at Amherst Memorial Hill Grove.
A native of Western New York, Clem Eckert attended Bryant and Stratton and Canisius College. During a 50 year career in the food industry, Clem was employed at Loblaws; Peter J. Schmitt; Twin Fair; Associated Grocers-North Carolina; Tripifoods; and Food Bank of WNY.
Clem joined Food Bank in 1995. He was appointed director in 1997 and president and CEO in 2004. He has led the organization through an impressive expansion period over the past decade – delivering services to over 400 member agencies. Last year alone, Food Bank of WNY distributed close to 12 million pounds of food to needy WNY families.
Clem is married, and lives with his wife, Anne, in Williamsville. He has a daughter, Susan, living in Elma, and a grandson, Aric, living in Amherst. Clem was named one of 10 Buffalo News 2000 Citizens of the year. He was presented with the Families Helping Families Foster Parent Network award in 2002; he received the NCCJ Brother/Sisterhood Award for social services in 2003, and a Recognition Award from the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo/Niagara Partnership in 2007.
Clem is a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Buffalo, and served in the Air National Guard in Niagara Falls for nine years.
Diane Rowe began her human services career as a case worker and teacher, while pursuing a position to challenge herself as an executive change agent. She is a graduate of Leadership Buffalo, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in education. Diane has held numerous executive positions – including those with the YWCA of WNY, and the Anorexia Bulimia Association.
She began her career in 1996, with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, where she grew the agency from five to 17 clubs. Diane manages a highly productive work force of over 100 employees, and has turned the agency from a $500,000 budgeted organization to a $4.5 million agency, serving 800 plus youths, ages 6-18, in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, and Amherst.
Diane works intensively to create programs geared to developing WNY youth, especially relative to gang violence and academic improvement. Working under a team philosophy, she has developed a Prevention Strategy program, to enable the youths of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo.
Diane has been a longtime contributor to many WNY civic and community organizations. Among them (but not limited to) are: chair and founding member, Buffalo United Charter School; board member, Catholic Central; executive director, New York State Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs of New York; Agency Executive Association of United Way; National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and member, FBI-Buffalo Citizens Academy Foundation.
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