Say Yes Buffalo
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Say Yes Buffalo's mission is to remove barriers to educational and career attainment for our youth.
Say Yes Buffalo is a landmark collaboration that brings all sectors of the community together to provide holistic, year-round support to Buffalo Public School District students throughout their K-12 years and beyond. Our mission: Say Yes Buffalo advances economic mobility for public school students across the Buffalo–Niagara region. Grounded in racial equity and inclusion, we deliver comprehensive programming from early learning through career, including a postsecondary tuition scholarship, and convene cross-sector community partners to collectively support students and families. Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, Say Yes Buffalo began implementing cradle-to-career support services to address academic, social/emotional and health needs of students in the Buffalo Public School district. Services currently available include:
- Scholarships (funded by local, private sources) to attend vocational and/or 2 and 4-year colleges (scholarships are available to graduates of public and charter schools in the city of Buffalo)
- Early Education: Say Yes Little Scholars Three-Year-Old school program in partnership with Buffalo Public Schools
- School-based Services: Preventive and health care management services for students and families of Buffalo Public Schools including mental health clinic coordination in 95% of school buildings
- Fair Futures for Foster Youth: career coaching and mentoring for youth involved in foster care and out-of-home "kinship" placements
- Breaking Barriers Youth Leadership Program (Boys and Men of Color): Mentoring program for youth ages 12-24
- Summer Camps for grades K-8
- Community Schools programming in 22 Buffalo Public school buildings featuring flagship Saturday Academy events
- Workforce Development Solutions for recent graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools
- FAFSA and TAP completion counseling
For more information about Say Yes Buffalo Scholarships and Grants, as well as when specific Say Yes Buffalo services, visit our website at www.SayYesBuffalo.org.
10/06/2026
Free tutoring alert for grades 5-12!
10/06/2026
Our COO Daphne Ross stopped by Daytime Buffalo to talk about the State of Say Yes community meeting coming up this month on October 16. Thank you Chelsea Lovell and News 4 WIVB Buffalo for the conversation.
Want to join us on the 16th? Registration is free an open to all! https://sayyesbuffalo.wufoo.com/forms/x6mf7ov13vns5g/
Daytime Buffalo: State of Say Yes | Annual gathering for Say Yes Buffalo Oct. 16 at Seneca One State of Say Yes | Annual gathering for Say Yes Buffalo Oct. 16 at ...
10/01/2026
At this year’s State of Say Yes, we’re proud to honor Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, NYS Assemblywoman for her leadership, service, and longstanding commitment to Buffalo and Western New York.
Join us for a morning of reflection, conversation, and connection as we celebrate the impact of Say Yes Buffalo, share where we’re headed next, and recognize the people helping move our community forward.
STATE OF SAY YES
📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 8:45 AM
📍 Seneca One
The morning will also feature an Impact Panel, a special Fireside Keynote with Dave Rust, and the introduction of ONWARD, the Say Yes Buffalo Young Professionals Network.
This is more than an update. It’s an opportunity to come together around the future of Buffalo’s students, families, and community.
We hope you’ll join us.
10/01/2026
Attention high school class of 2027, opportunity is knocking!
Since 2013, the Say Yes Buffalo scholarship has leveraged $298 MILLION in financial aid for Buffalo students who complete their FAFSA (federal aid) and TAP (state aid).
In order to receive the Say Yes Scholarship, all students MUST apply for both, so don't delay: make a plan, get some help, and get that $$$!
10/01/2026
Get your middle schoolers thinking HIGH SCHOOL 📚🎓and come on down to the High School Showcase this Saturday.
09/29/2026
This weekend at McKinley High School…
As a young professional, you don't always have to be rushing toward the next milestone; it’s okay to pause, celebrate your wins, and just breathe.
Our host Maddie Little and guest, Say Yes Alumna, Jonvier Whittington sit and discuss the importance of appreciating living in the now! It's easy to get caught up in the pressure of 'what’s next.'
Listen to the full episode on Youtube using the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUTvkEdBTEs
You are invited to Say Yes Buffalo’s Employer Think Tank (ETT) Speaker Series special event, A Seat at the Table: Building Belonging for Young Professionals in the Workplace!
Join us on October 7th from 10:00AM-11:30AM at the Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences for an insightful discussion led by guest author Michaela Leslie-Rule about harnessing youth voice to unlock innovation, drive meaningful change, co-design the future of work and redefine workplace belonging for all employees.
Michaela Leslie-Rule is the author of How We See Us: Young People Imagining a Path to Their Futures and is the Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation.
Register here to save your seat for A Seat at the Table: https://sayyesbuffalo.wufoo.com/forms/x1b2xp9w19uos1q/
For questions about the event or the Employer Think Tank, email Tiffany Swink, Senior Business Partnerships Manager: [email protected]
This event is sponsored by UB Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships.
Say Yes Buffalo Say Yes Buffalo's mission is to remove barriers to educational and career attainment for our youth.
09/22/2026
We’re excited to share that Say Yes Buffalo has been selected as a Round 5 Grantee of the Catalyze Challenge!
It's been our priority to offer healthcare careers to our scholars that offered more than entry-level certifications. We're that much closer to the dream becoming reality.
We’re grateful to the Challenge and its funding partners for investing in our work—and we can’t wait to get started!- https://mailchi.mp/eca2b02372cc/untitled-8018693
09/18/2026
Highlighting our last CSN of the week, Deoniss Jackson, who is also a Say Yes Alumna. She has been a CSN at East High School for 1 year.
Fun facts about Deoniss:
*She loves coaching her seniors on the Ex*****on Drill Team
*She loves building her students up outside of education
Thank you for believing in our students, helping to boost up their confidence, and reassuring them about being destined for greatness!
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Website
Address
1166 Jefferson Avenue
Buffalo, NY
14208
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8:30am - 5pm |
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