Buffalo Promise Neighborhood

buffalo promise neighborhood (bpn) is a unique public / private partnership bringing together local business, community and philanthropic leaders to help build and sustain stronger communities within the city of buffalo. our focus is two-fold: • provide opportunity, support and services to help parents achieve the best for themselves and their children; and • build a strong educational foundation that carries children from cradle to career. in the early 1990s, m&t; bank chairman, robert wilmers, was concerned about the state of education in buffalo’s public schools. this led to the idea: if m&t; were to adopt a struggling school and invest in it, could that make a difference? in 1993, that idea was put to the test when mr. wilmers led a group of m&t; bank employees to help revitalize buffalo public school 68 – at the time, one of the city’s lowest performing schools. the group brought a new perspective, viewing it through a business lens, in addition to education. as school #68 transit