Meet the Leaders Driving United Way’s Mission: 2025 Campaign Co-Chairs
United Way of Buffalo & Erie County is excited to introduce three dynamic community leaders as our 2025 campaign co-chairs. These individuals bring a wealth of experience, passion, and commitment to UWBEC’s mission, helping to ensure a brighter future for Western New York.
Kendra Brim, Vice President of Programs and Organizational Advancement, Leadership Buffalo
With nearly 15 years of experience across project management, healthcare, education, and technology, Kendra Brim is a seasoned expert in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and racial equity. In her role at Leadership Buffalo, Kendra oversees program development, implementation, and evaluation while advancing the organization’s mission and growth.
Kendra’s connection to UWBEC began in 2015, and her impact has only grown since then, including five years on the Board of Directors. Reflecting on her appointment, Kendra shared:
Being appointed as UWBEC co-chair is an honor that reflects nearly a decade of commitment to United Way’s mission, including five impactful years on the board of directors. I’m inspired by our pillars of healthy community, financial security, youth opportunity, and community resilience and am eager to lead alongside such dedicated individuals to create lasting change in our community.”
Nick Schafer, Manager of Brand & Creative, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, Kaleida Health
Nick Schafer is a creative powerhouse with over a decade of experience in branding, marketing, and content creation. From healthcare to toddler toys, Nick has collaborated with organizations across various industries, creating content that drives awareness and business growth. His journey with UWBEC began in 2017 through Next Generation United, the organization’s young professional branch.
Speaking about his new role, Nick said:
United Way is at a really fascinating nexus point: reintroducing itself to the Western New York community and showing how it is hands-on – providing direct support to our neighbors and friends who are doing their best to thrive but just need that extra oomph to do so. UWBEC is there to be that exact push, and I couldn’t be more excited to share that story and help it do so as Co-Chair.
Anna Stolzenburg, Vice President of Brand & Digital Strategy, Buffalo Sabres
As a Western New York native and leader in media and content strategy, Anna Stolzenburg brings more than a decade of expertise to her role as Vice President of Brand & Digital Strategy for the Buffalo Sabres. Anna’s involvement with UWBEC started in 2016 with Next Generation United, and she now serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
For Anna, supporting United Way is a family tradition. She expressed her enthusiasm for this new leadership role:
Supporting United Way is generational in my family, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent this new wave of leadership with our energetic campaign co-chair group. I can’t wait to get to work on raising the support needed to power United Way’s mission that is crucial to the health of our community.
A Bold Vision for the Future
This fall, we unveiled a fresh new look as part of a brand refresh, adopting United Way Worldwide’s updated visual identity. As early adopters, we’re committed to innovating and leading the way, a commitment reflected in the work of our dedicated campaign chairs. Together, Kendra, Nick, and Anna will champion UWBEC’s pillars of healthy communities, financial security, youth opportunity, and community resilience. Their leadership will help fuel the support necessary to power life-changing initiatives throughout Western New York.
Stay tuned for more updates on the incredible work these leaders will accomplish with our community partners and supporters.