CDS Foundation By-Laws, New Board Approved
Founding Members of the CDS Foundation Board. Pictured from the left: Ray Isaac, Louis Cristo, Charlie Vita, Gary Baker, Julie Stern, Dick Rosati, Joe Fazio, and Dennis Buchan.
Following the January 2006 CDS Board meeting, Kevin LeGrett, chairperson, expressed great satisfaction in announcing the Board’s unanimous decision to establish a separate, not-for-profit organization created exclusively to provide fundraising and communications support to CDS. “The agency is growing at such a rapid pace” LeGrett said. “It only makes sense that we help secure our future by taking the next logical step which is to establish a CDS Foundation.”
LeGrett also pointed to the fact that donors want to know that their charitable dollars are used and invested wisely. “And families want to know that CDS will be still be here for their loved ones in the years to come. They also tell us they want more opportunities to be involved in supporting our work. Our new Foundation will provide a means to make this happen.”
For the past two years, Sankar Sewnauth, president & CEO of CDS, has envisioned a the creation of an independent foundation for the purpose of raising needed funds for CDS. “A closely affiliated foundation will help us secure the future of CDS and of those we serve”, Sewnauth noted. “It’s a very exciting endeavor whose time has come.”
Steps toward establishing a CDS Foundation started taking shape last summer with the hiring of a seasoned development professional, Bill Keenan, to help build on the agency’s successful fundraising and community relations initiatives facilitated by Stephanie DiMaria Buchbinder. In December the CDS Board approved the appointment of Dennis Buchan, past regional president of KeyBank, and current president of DSB Solutions, LLC, to serve as the founding Chairperson of the CDS Foundation. At the January meeting of the CDS Board, Buchan presented and received approval for proposed by-laws for the new Foundation, and for his slate of Foundation Board nominees.
Following the January CDS Board meeting, Buchan was quick to draw attention to the high-caliber community leaders who have agreed to serve as members of the new Foundation Board. “I am very, very pleased and so impressed with these seven individuals who stepped forward to say ‘I am willing to help’”, Buchan noted. ”I laughed when I noticed that they’re all Type A personalities, people who like to make things happen. That characteristic, plus their obvious enthusiasm for the CDS mission, will bode well for the Foundation.”
In addition to Dennis Buchan, the following are founding members of the CDS Foundation Board:
Gary Baker, partner, Cochran, Cochran and Yale
Louis Cristo, president, Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina P.C.
Joseph Fazio, director of sales, 10 NBC/WHEC TV
Ray Isaac, president, Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Richard Rosati, retired vice president for advancement, SUNY @ Geneseo
Julie Steron, vice president, Zweigle’s, Inc.
Charles Vita, district president, Citizens Bank
Also serving on the CDS Foundation Board as Ex Officio members are Sankar Sewnauth, president/CEO of CDS, and Bill Keenan, who serves as executive director of the Foundation. Other Foundation staff include Stephanie DiMaria Buchbinder, director of communications & development, and Margie Slinker, communications & development associate.
Dennis Buchan began his tenure as Foundation Board Chair in December by helping CDS secure a $50,000 NYS Community Capital Funding grant for CDS’ Unistel expansion project (see article on this page). In addition to raising funds for this project, proposed Foundation plans also include efforts to raise money to do the following: help establish a region-wide Employment Services Center for individuals with developmental disabilities; raise funds from special events that will benefit CDS’ transportation, employment, creative arts and K.I.D programs; and establish a “Fund for the Future” that will help ensure services at CDS for years to come.
“An emphasis will be placed on creating opportunities for families to become more involved with the work of CDS, and on growing the number of local corporations, foundations and government entities that partner with CDS as sponsors, underwriters and grantors”, notes Buchan. “However, first and foremost on our list will be touching base with current donors and benefactors, letting them know how much we appreciate their generous support, asking for their input as to how we can do better, and encouraging them to continue their partnership with us.”
For more information about the CDS Foundation, or to make a leadership “seed gift” toward the work of the Foundation, please call Bill Keenan at (585) 598-8731.