Buffalo, NY – Brush Up Buffalo, a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization focused on revitalizing City of Buffalo neighborhoods, will repaint 15 low-income homes with the help of 400 volunteers in the Kensington-Bailey neighborhood on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

Designated avenues for Brush Up Buffalo 2010 – Poultney, Elmer, Thatcher, and Comstock – are in a tight cluster, bounded to the north by Amherst Street and to the south by Kensington Avenue. At least 25 volunteers will be needed to paint on each house. Teams from local organizations are encouraged to register online at www.brushupbuffalo.org.

Brush Up Buffalo 2010 was originally slated for its typical day-before-Father’s Day date of Saturday, June 19, but was postponed for more time to evaluate newly-passed federal guidelines for lead-safe practices with regard to painting projects as well as a shortage of funding. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo recently answered both needs with a $15,000 grant that provides professional prep work to houses before volunteers paint.

“We’ve always done our due diligence to follow the best safety practices on paint day, and the health and safety of our volunteers and the community-at-large is of utmost concern to Brush Up Buffalo,” said organization president Roseann Scibilia. “With the Community Foundation’s generous funding, we’re able to protect the environment and also make the painting experience faster and more enjoyable for the volunteers.”

Volunteers are asked to meet at the Erie Country Medical Center at 8 a.m. on the day of the event and are strongly encouraged to bring ladders. Upon arrival, volunteers will receive breakfast, a t-shirt, transportation to houses, supplies and drinks on site. Lunch is provided outdoors at ECMC upon completion.

In addition to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo donating at the Paint Sprayer ($15,000) level, other sponsors to date include The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation at the Paint Brush ($5,000) level, and Bank of America as well as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council #4 at the House Sponsor ($2,500) level. Additional sponsors and in-kind donors include Citizens Bank, M&T Bank, Tops Friendly Markets, Harter Secrest & Emery, Malcolm Pirnie, UPS and Darling Paint.

More than 250 homes have been painted in the City of Buffalo since Brush Up Buffalo’s inception in 1996. This year marks the organization’s 14th event. Last year, volunteers painted 16 homes in the University Heights district near the University at Buffalo South Campus.

About Brush Up Buffalo
Brush Up Buffalo is a nonprofit organization that utilizes community-minded volunteers and donated supplies to help low-income families in the City of Buffalo spruce up their homes and revitalize their neighborhoods. Each year, the one-day event attracts teams from businesses, unions, community groups, and government who work together to “brush up” Buffalo homes. For more information, visit www.brushupbuffalo.org or call (716) 250-3353.

# # #