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BUFFALO, NY,: June 11, 2026

Media Contact: cabrinihealth@berlinrosen.com 

New investment to the Buffalo Center for Health Equity  will help launch a resident-led effort to improve health outcomes and strengthen the Upper Broadway Fillmore neighborhood

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation,the largest grantmaking organization focused exclusively on advancing the health and well-being of New Yorkers, today announced a $3 million, two-year grant to the Buffalo Center for Health Equity to support the Upper Broadway Fillmore Transformation Project, a community-led initiative to improve health outcomes and address long-standing inequities in Buffalo’s Upper Broadway Fillmore neighborhood. The funding will support the project’s core infrastructure and early implementation, including establishing a resident-led Neighborhood Council, launching a community-wide planning process, and advancing coordinated efforts across key areas such as housing, health, education, and economic opportunity.

Grounded in years of research and community engagement, the project advances a new model for neighborhood revitalization that places residents at the center of decision-making and focuses on the underlying conditions that shape health, including housing, education, economic opportunity, and access to care. The initiative is led by the Buffalo Center for Health Equity and includes local partners Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, University at Buffalo Center for Urban Studies & Community Health Equity Research Institute, the King Urban Life Center, Urban Equity Management Group, and Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services.

The focus on Buffalo’s East Side reflects both the scale of need and the strength of the community. The area faces persistent economic and housing challenges, including high housing cost burdens, alongside long-standing barriers to opportunity. At the same time, it is anchored by deeply engaged residents and community institutions working to shape a stronger future.

“Real and lasting improvements in health require us to look beyond clinical care and invest in the communities where people live,” said Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “This initiative reflects the power of a community coming together to define its own future. We are proud to support a model that is rooted in resident leadership, dignity, and the belief that every neighborhood should be a place where people can thrive.”

The Upper Broadway Fillmore Transformation Project is grounded in years of research, data analysis, and direct engagement with residents. Central to the effort is the creation of a resident-led Neighborhood Council, which will help guide priorities, shape investments, and ensure that the work reflects the lived experience and needs of the community.

“The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is empowering this neighborhood by making a foundational investment in the planning, development and implementation of a transformational vision that will have generational impact,” said Pastor George Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Center for Health Equity.

“The Upper Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood Transformation Project is a social movement that empowers residents to take control of neighborhood development and collectively build the healthy, thriving, and joyful community they deserve,” said Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., founding director of the UB Center for Urban Studies, and associate director of the UB Community Equity Research Institute.

Funding from the Foundation supports the core infrastructure of the initiative, including staffing, community engagement, and coordination across partners. In its first phase, the project will focus on engaging residents, establishing governance structures, and developing a shared neighborhood plan. Future phases will advance implementation efforts across key areas including housing, health, education, and economic opportunity. By aligning resources and leadership around a single, place-based strategy, the initiative aims to demonstrate a scalable model for addressing health inequities at the neighborhood level.

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About the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation 

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization established in 2019 to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that provide direct health care services and address social determinants under five grant program areas: Access to Care, Basic Needs, Healthcare Workforce, Mental & Behavioral Health, and the General Fund. In 2024, the Foundation marked $1 billion in grantmaking to support communities across the State. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/