Adopt a Family brings holiday spirit to needy families

The generosity of UB employees across the university brightened the lives of nearly 50 families in need this past holiday season.

The holiday spirit came from the more than 35 offices, departments and schools that participated in UB’s Adopt a Family program, sponsored by the Office of Community Relations.  

Tionte Brown and her fiancé, Ali McKoy, who were nominated by the University District Community Development Association and the Salvation Army, were among those assisted by the UB program.

“We walked into our jobs at a Buffalo collections agency on Oct. 6 last year, excited after we bought our home five days earlier,” Brown said.  

“They told everyone to go home, that the agency was shutting down. We had worked there seven years and there was no announcement or anything. It was the worst day of my life.”

Brown said that suddenly being out of work put her and her fiancé behind on everything.

“Any new money we made, we went to Family Dollar to try and start buying presents for our kids that we could set aside for Christmas. We are so happy that we were chosen by this program. We are very grateful that people care.”

Participating UB offices, departments and schools each “adopted” a family for the holidays, purchasing toys, clothing, gift cards and much needed household items from the families’ wish lists. Gifts were distributed to the families on Dec. 18 in Allen Hall, South Campus. The families also had the opportunity to meet sponsoring faculty and staff members.

For Brown and McKoy, it was the School of Dental Medicine.

“I have participated in Adopt a Family since the second year of the program,” said Eileen Mcilhagga, a business operations manager at the school. “Years ago, my father passed away three months before Christmas. I was a single parent with a 6-year-old son, and that left us really struggling. Then my son’s elementary school nominated us for a program that helped families in need of assistance.

“I had just started with UB, and the support from that program made all the difference for us that Christmas. The memory is still very strong for me. You don’t forget a kindness.”

Happy families and UB faculty and staff sponsors smiled and shared tears and hugs at the Adopt-a-Family event. UB Community Relations Director Linwood Roberts said the growth in university offices and departments participating in the Adopt-a-Family program says a great deal about the UB community.

“The generosity of UB faculty and staff, who have filled this room with presents, to wrap, decorate and volunteer their time and energy is such a big part of making this event what it is,” he said.

“The success of this program each year helps to make the holidays mean something to many of Buffalo’s families in need. I’m more than grateful and I know the families are, as well.”

The following UB offices, departments and schools participated in the 2015 Adopt-a-Family program: Student Health Services; School of Dental Medicine; School of Dental Medicine Dean’s Office; Behling Simulation Center; Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health; Women’s Health Initiative Research Center; Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; School of Nursing; Department of Rehabilitation Science; Business Services; Human Resources; Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach, UB Technology Incubator, UB Biosciences Incubator; Office of International Education; Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; and the Office of Research Advancement.

Also, College of Arts and Sciences; College of Arts and Sciences’ Student Advisement Services; College of Arts and Sciences’ Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement; Student Life; Intercultural Diversity Center; Office of Graduate Medical Education; Department of Computer Science & Engineering; Department of Physiology and Biophysics; Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Degree Programs; Honors College; Office of Shared Governance (Faculty Senate and Professional Staff Senate); Wellness Education Services; Office of the Registrar; and HUB Support.

Also, Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology; Financial Aid; Office of the President; Office of the Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement; Office of Government Relations; Office of Community Relations; Uniform Data Systems for Medical Rehabilitation; Network and Classroom Services; Office of the Provost; Office of Student Engagement; Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Informatics; Student Accounts; UBMD; Campus Living; Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development; and Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration.