Patrick P. Lee Foundation Awards $400,000 in Grants to Support Re-Entry Programming

Buffalo, NY – The Patrick P. Lee Foundation, a private foundation that focuses its investments on education and mental health, is pleased to announce grants totaling $400,000 to Buffalo Urban League, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), and Peaceprints WNY. The grants will support programming for individuals transitioning from incarceration to the workforce with the goal of reducing barriers to employment, strengthening pre-release and/or post-release support, and expanding access to skills training to create pathways to long term success.

WHY THIS INVESTMENT MATTERS

In Erie County alone, hundreds of individuals return home from incarceration each year. Many face significant barriers to stability: According to a report in 2024 from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, nearly 60% of those in local jails report a mental health condition, and over 40% require detoxification services upon reentry. Additionally, one out of every four individuals in the Erie County Holding Center, have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Without coordinated support, these challenges can quickly lead to cycles of unemployment, housing insecurity, and recidivism.

“By investing in organizations that specialize in reentry, we are addressing both the economic and behavioral health needs that determine whether returning citizens succeed,” stated Jane Mogavero, executive director of the Lee Foundation. “This dual focus reflects the Foundation’s commitment to advancing workforce opportunities, improving mental health, and strengthening the long-term stability of communities across Western New York.”

GRANT RECIPIENTS

As a demonstration of its commitment to the regional workforce, the Foundation invited organizations in western and central New York to submit proposals promoting programming for pre-release and/ or post-release from incarceration. The Foundation received requests totaling $2.3 million dollars and selected three programs for funding:

• Buffalo Urban League – Reentry Program

  • The grant will support justice-involved young adults (ages 18–24) through industry-specific construction training and certifications. Over two years, the program will serve up to 120 participants, providing hands-on training, five industry-recognized certifications, and individualized support from dedicated case managers. Graduates gain direct access to local contractors committed to hiring program participants, while wraparound services—including transportation, tools, and mentorship—help ensure long-term success, reduce recidivism, and promote economic mobility in Western New York.

  • “On behalf of the Buffalo Urban League, I am deeply grateful to the Lee Foundation for their generous support. This investment strengthens our re-entry efforts, helping us provide critical resources, guidance, and opportunity for individuals returning to our community, ensuring they have a fair chance to rebuild their lives while making positive contributions in Buffalo and the WNY region.”

  • - Thomas Beauford, President & CEO of the Buffalo Urban League.

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) – Buffalo Workforce Program

  • Funding will strengthen CEO’s Buffalo programming by covering participant equipment, technology, furniture, rent, and key personnel costs. The program provides paid workforce readiness, transitional work, individualized coaching, credentialed training, and union pre-apprenticeships for justice-impacted jobseekers. Over two years, CEO aims to serve at least 170 participants annually, place 90 individuals into permanent employment, and provide holistic support that promotes skill-building, economic mobility, and long-term workforce success.

  • “The Lee Foundation’s investment in reentry programming affirms the potential of every individual returning home from incarceration. This support enables CEO to deepen our impact and expand services in Buffalo that connect justice-impacted people to meaningful work, stability, and opportunity. We’re proud to continue growing our partnership with the Lee Foundation, which reflects a shared commitment to advancing economic mobility and community stability.”

  • - Sam Schaeffer, CEO & Executive Director of the Center for Employment Opportunities

• Peaceprints WNY – Project Blue Expansion

  • Funding will allow Peaceprints to serve justice-impacted individuals who were previously ineligible due to limited jail enrollment windows. The grant supports case management, workforce development, family reunification, educational assistance, and wraparound services for at least 100 clients annually. Staffed by peer mentors with lived justice experience, the program helps participants secure basic needs, access mental health and substance use treatment, pursue education and employment opportunities, and navigate complex systems, all with the goal of reducing recidivism and promoting long-term independence.

  • “Through this generous investment, Peaceprints will be able to connect our community clients with case managers who have lived experiences of justice involvement. Our Community Coordinators will not only help clients achieve stability and find gainful employment, but they will also serve as peers, offering informal mentorship and empathetic support that can lead to positive outcomes. We express our gratitude to the Patrick P. Lee Foundation for their unwavering commitment to providing second chances not only for the clients we serve to succeed, but also for us to excel by their side.”

  • - Cindi McEachon, CEO Peaceprints of WNY

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation views these investments as the beginning of a broader effort to address reentry challenges in Western New York.