Chronology of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation
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Summer, 1981 - Jake Schneider contacts Bill Koessler with an idea for a young businessmen’s group to assist in the revitalization of Buffalo and Western New York. Four additional charter members were recruited: Moe Naylon, Peter Hunt, Leon Smith, and Brian Maher. The Buffalo Renaissance Foundation is born.
Fall, 1981 - Second group of six members are introduced: Rob Miller, Horace Gioia, Jim Eaton, Randy Murphy, Dan Roblin and Gary Brost
- The Foundation is temporarily placed under the legal umbrella of the National Heritage Foundation
- First fundraiser held on the U.S.S. Little Rock, approximately 500 attend
1982 - First annual Fall Golf Classic held at Crag Burn Golf Club
1983 - Private Foundation status established
1984 - First of two spring parties held at Hyatt Regency to benefit the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
1986 - St. Valentines Day party held at the Tralfamadore Cafe, featuring Ahmad Jamal
1987 - Third group of directors are introduced: Bill Collins, Peter Demakos, Tom Benzee, Ted Pierce, Mike DeRose, Tim Ortolani, Gary Stott
1989 - Fourth group of directors are introduced: Seymour Knox IV, Brian Lipke, Glen Kauffman, Chip Jones, Ed Gibbons and Bill Thuman
1991 - First Spring Luncheon held at the Statler Tower Golden Ballroom featuring Don Criqui of NBC Sports and honoring Robert E. Rich Sr. as Renaissance Man of the Year. Proceeds to establish a scholarship for U.B. Division I Athletics
- Foundation establishes a Sustainers category for past directors
1992 - Tenth Anniversary celebration held at Country Club of Buffalo
- Golf Classic moves to Cherry Hill Club
1993 - Fifth group of directors is elected: Mark Bonner, Gary Hess and Brad Randaccio
- Second Spring Luncheon benefits World University Games and features Lesley Visser of CBS Sports
- Burt Flickinger is honored as Renaissance Man
- Tenth Fall Golf Classic moves to Wanakah Country Club
1994 - Sixth group of directors is elected: Ed Duch, Neal Fatin, Chris Koch, Peter Marlette, Chris Ross, Ned Smith, Henry Urban and Ted Walsh
- First publication of the Director’s Update newsletter is published
- Third Spring Luncheon benefits YMCA
- Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall is guest speaker; Seymour H. Knox III is honored as Renaissance Man
- By- Laws are formally adopted
1995 - Thirteenth Annual Golf Classic held at Wanakah Country Club
1996 - Fourteenth Annual Golf Classic returns to Cherry Hill Club
1997 - Seventh group of directors is elected: Joe Kreuz, Jeff Vukelic, Chris Jacobs and John Somers
1998 - Sixteenth Annual Golf Classic held at Cherry Hill Club
- Fifteenth Annual Golf Classic held at Cherry Hill Club
- Public Speaker Forum held with City officials and area business leaders for discussion of Buffalo Charter Revision and consolidation of regional services
- Funded "No Handout — No Bailout" study exploring ways to cut cost of services in our region
1999 - Eighth group of directors is elected: Tom Comer, Alan Hastings, Anthony Jordan, Tom O’Brien, Art Russ, Buford Sears, and Mike Walsh
- Seventeenth Annual Golf Classic held at Cherry Hill Club
- Public forum held at Buffalo State College on Charter Revision process for City of Buffalo
2000 - Spring Luncheon is held at Statler Golden Ballroom honoring co- Renaissance Men, Joel Giambra and Anthony Masiello. Over 500 people attended this very successful event emphasizing the spirit of cooperation and regionalism in Western New York.
- A winter speaker forum was held with over 100 business leaders in attendance. The topic was the Downtown Buffalo 2002! Strategic Plan presented by Robert Shibley of University at Buffalo's Architecture and Planning Department. Ideas were shared among Shibley and the business community involving major areas of downtown development and planning.
- Eighteenth Annual Golf Classic is held at Cherry Hill Clu.
2001 - Fall Luncheon is held at the Buffalo Convention Center honoring Paul J. Koessler as 2001 Renaissance Man. Guest speaker Honorable Joseph P. Riley, Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, shared his vision and insights on the rebuilding of his city and how we can apply those concepts to downtown Buffalo's revitalization.
2001 - Nineteenth Annual Golf Tournament @ Cherry Hill Club
2002 - Twentieth Annual Golf Tournament @ Wanakah Country Club
2003 - Ninth group of new class members is elected: James Dentinger, James Doyle II and Thomas Vanner.
2004 - Tenth group of new class members is elected: David Pfalzgraf, Jr., Eugene Kershner and Scott Hoffman.
2005 - Eleventh group of new class members is elected: John Polvino, Michael Montante, Matthew Enstice and Matthew Modzynski.
- Twenty Third Annual Golf Tournament held at Cherry Hill Club.
- Luncheon held at Statler Towers, featuring Charles Jordan, Chairman of The Conservation Fund, honoring Victor & Corinne Rice and benefitting the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
2006 - Twelfth group of new class members is elected: Bill Cleary, James Iglewski, James Jerge and Thomas Quealy.
- Twenty Fifth Anniversary with celebration held at Statler Golden Ballroom on October 28th, 2006.
- Luncheon held at Statler Golden Ballroom, honored Robert Kresse and keynote speaker was Eric Lloyd Wright. The primary beneficiary was the Buffalo Niagara Cultural Tourism Initiative.
- 24th Annual Golf Classic, held at Wanakah Country Club.
- Speaker forum featuring Carl Montante, Jr. of Uniland Development on Waterfront Development.
2007 - Thirteenth group of new class members is elected: Timothy Geiger, James Segarra and Walter Zurowski.2008 - Fourteenth group of new class members is elected: Benjamin Obletz and Tod Martin.
- Spring Luncheon is held at Statler Golden Ballroom with record attendance and fundraising. Dan Gunderson from the NYS Economic Development Corporation delivers the keynote speech. Thomas Beecher honored as Renaissance Man of the Year.
- Proceeds for Luncheon used for commencement of Renaissance Fellowship Grant to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
- Twenty Fifth Annual Golf Tournament, held at Wanakah Country Club. Proceeds from tournament donated to the BISON Fund used to fund 15 scholarships for local youth.
- Speaker forum featuring James Williams, Buffalo Schools Superintendant, at Hutch-Tech.
- Spring Luncheon is held at Golden Statler Ballroom. Christopher C. Collins, County Executive delivered the keynote speech. Christopher becomes the first former BRF director to be honored as Renaissance Man of the Year.
- Renaissance Scholars Program benefiting City of Buffalo students announced at luncheon. Seed money provided by Brighter Futures Fund and prospects from BRF luncheon.