Congratulations to the Winners of Pitch10 2024

(L-R: Big Big Table, Hope Totes, PATH; Background: NGU Advisory Council) 
 

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s Next Generation United

Announces Nonprofit Winners of Pitch10 2024

Nonprofit competitors awarded $50,000 in grants to further activate their missions

BUFFALO, N.Y.  – On September 25, 2024, over 300 attendees gathered at Seneca One to watch 10 emerging nonprofits compete for $50,000 in grant prizes during United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Next Generation United Advisory Board (NGU)’s marquee event, Pitch10. This Shark Tank-style competition, aimed at the young professional community, brought together a diverse group of local organizations dedicated to creating lasting impact in Western New York.

NGU is proud to announce the recipients of Pitch10’s grant funding, determined by a live vote from the audience. 

Pitch10 2024’s first, second, and third-place awardees are:
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• First Prize – $25,000 – Big Big Table
  
  Buffalo’s first pay-as-you-can cafe, Big Big Table is committed to addressing hunger through a participatory service model, focusing on food security, sustainability, and community.
  
   
• Second Prize – $12,000 – Hope Totes
  
  Dedicated to providing comfort and love-filled support during times of medical need, Hope Totes creates and distributes specially-curated “Hope Totes” for patients and caregivers facing serious conditions that include essential items to support along their medical journeys.
  
   
• Third Prize – $6,000 – PATH Inc. (People Against Trafficking Humans)
  
  PATH Inc. (People Against Trafficking Humans) is dedicated to combating human trafficking through education, prevention and restoration, providing support and services to child and adult survivors of trafficking through a holistic model of care.​ 

No organization left empty-handed; the seven remaining nonprofits—Be Your Own Hero, Bolder, Inc., For Grieving Daughters, Fostering Greatness, Good Neighbor Fund, IF Kids, Inc., Seneca Street CDC—each received a $1,000 micro-grant courtesy of the prize pool sponsors. 
 

Supporting the nonprofit sector is core to United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s mission. For the first time this year, all 10 pitching organizations have been invited to join the Executive Edge program, offering access to resources, mentorship, and community connections beyond the event.

Pitch10 is made possible with support from:

Title Sponsor: Empower Federal Credit Union
Event Sponsors: Ingram Micro | Lawley Insurance | BankOnBuffalo

Presenting Sponsor: Seneca One

Prize Pool Sponsors: John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital | Kaleida Health | Rich Products | National Fuel | Highmark Health | Phillips Lytle LLP | Canisius University Wehle School of Business | JKC Foundation | The Bonadio Group

Prize Pool Match Sponsor: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation provides a dollar-for-dollar match to all the funds pledged by prize sponsors.