Run the Burg

About J.P.'s Foundation

J.P.’s Foundation Mission Statement This not-for-profit corporation is established to better our community by promoting charitable, educational, religious, scientific, literary and cultural organizations, activities and programs that assist with and enhance the lives of the people who reside in Western New York.

Executive Summary J.P.’s Foundation, Inc. organizes and promotes two events which raise funds primarily for the benefit of individuals in our community who face the daily challenges of Autism.

J.P.'s Foundation Board of Directors

Brian is a managing partner in the law firm of Attea & Attea, P.C., located in the Village of Hamburg, N.Y. and also serves as the Town Attorney for the Town of Concord, N.Y., Prosecutor in the Village of Hamburg, N.Y. and Deputy Town Prosecutor for the Town of Colden, N.Y. Brian serves on the Board of ARC Erie County (formerly Heritage Centers), the Erie County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc., which is dedicated to providing opportunities and enhancing the lives of individuals living with disabilities, where he has previously served as both Board Secretary and Board Chair. He currently continues to serve as the Chair of the Guardianship Committee. Brian is also a Trustee on the Board for St. Francis High School, in Athol Springs, N.Y.

Brian previously served on the Board of Mt. Irenaeus, a Franciscan Retreat Center affiliated with St. Bonaventure University and on the Board at Springville Country Club in Springville, N.Y. and was a former Co-President of the Parents Guild at SS Peter and Paul Grade School in Hamburg, N.Y.

Bob is the owner and president of J.P. Fitzgerald's Restaurant located in Hamburg, NY. For more than three decades Bob's life has been centered in and around the hospitality industry. Bob is a member of the Hamburg and Orchard Park Chambers, the Village VBAC, NYS Restaurant Association and the F.I.R.S.T. Group. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Erie County Agricultural Society. Previously held board positions include the Boston Chamber of Commerce and a six-year term on the Board of Directors for Springville C.C. Bob resides in Hamburg with his wife Tracy and their three children; Aidan, Addam and Presleigh.

Jay is a retired Senior Key Account Sales Engineer for Walter/Valenite LLC. His career has spanned 35 years in the industrial cutting tool industry. He is the past Vice-President and President of the WNY Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He is also the past Co-Chairman of the Kyle Reid Memorial Foundation and parent volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. Jay and his wife Denise live in the Village of Hamburg and have two sons.

Jason is a Director of Surety with the Vanner Insurance Agency. He is very active with the Hamburg Pirates, an AAU Travel basketball program. He was a founding member of the Kyle Reid foundation. Jason lives in the village of Hamburg with his wife and 2 sons.

Retired President/CEO of Evans Bank and Evans Bancorp, following a 33-year career in the WNY banking community. Following his retirement in 2007 he has held interim leadership positions as Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County as well as Executive Director of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden Society Inc.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Mercy Hospital Foundation, J.P.’s Foundation, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Advisory Council and the UWBEC Endowment Committee, and chairs the capital campaign for Cradle Beach.

Previously held board positions include: The American Lung Association; Niagara Frontier Vocational Rehabilitation Center; United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Diocese of Buffalo St. Joseph Foundation/Audit Committee; Center for Hospice and Palliative Care; New York State Bankers Association; Independent Bankers Association of New York State; Kenmore Mercy Foundation; Community Concern of WNY; St. Columban Retreat Center; St Mary's School for the Deaf; Bishop Timon St. Jude High School; Cradle Beach Camp. He and his wife Susan enjoy seven children and 17 grandchildren.

Dave works as a free-lance graphic designer. Dave has been a life-long resident of the Village of Hamburg, where he resides with his wife, Barbara. He is the proud father of three children and grandfather of five. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Dave currently serves on the Village of Hamburg Historic Preservation Commission, he is Co-Chair of the Village Garden Walk Committee, and a member of the Hamburg Alumni Foundation Board of Directors. Dave is also a member of the civic action group Imagine:Hamburg and the WNY Hosta Society. He is the co-organizer and co-host of the “Great Harvest Network Group” in the Village of Hamburg.

Dave previously served on the Board for the League for the Handicapped and the Pre-school Learning Center in Springville, N.Y., which are devoted to assisting and providing support for individuals with disabilities. He is also a former Board Member and Coach with the former Village of Hamburg Young America Soccer Club.

For more than three decades, Bryan’s Wittman’s professional life has been defined by his innovative marketing of entertainment, special events, celebrations and commercial developments around the world.

The successful executive’s career was officially launched in 1976 at The Erie County Fair and Exposition in his hometown of Hamburg, New York. There, Bryan excelled at a number of jobs including management of the fair’s expansive entertainment facilities. His teenage work experience eventually propelled Bryan into the ranks of executive marketing positions with Darien Lake, Marriott and Six Flags Theme Parks, the Ice Capades and ultimately, The Walt Disney Company.

Bryan spent 29-years working with Disney, expertly planning and producing his way from the Promotions Department to the office of Corporate Vice President of Global Special Events. In that role, he was responsible for the marketing, creative development, and production of major grand openings, special events, entertainment and festivals for Disney Theme Parks and Resorts worldwide. As his career advanced, Bryan’s expertise expanded to include commercial development, operations, hospitality, talent relations and guest service.

Through Bryan’s leadership, Disney expanded from marketing and producing special events, festivals and movie premieres onsite at the company’s Theme Parks Resorts, to producing marketing events at renown public venues including New York City’s Times Square, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard and The National Mall in Washington, DC. Bryan was additionally responsible for developing Disney Cruise Line christenings and promotional events for then Disney-owned Mighty Ducks (National Hockey League) Los Angeles Angels (Major League Baseball).

Bryan’s global focus encompassed the marketing of numerous large scale development projects including Hong Kong Disneyland, California Adventure Theme Park, the Downtown Disney Entertainment Complex, ESPN Zones and hundreds of thrill rides, attractions, parades and celebrations. He served as the creative force behind Disney productions at a number of Super Bowl halftime shows and at the Macy’s Parade and Pasadena’s famed Rose Parade. In 2008 and 2012, Bryan was invited to serve as a Rose Parade judge, the only person in the 126 year history of the event to be extended that dual honor.

Bryan attended St. Francis High School and is a graduate of Ashland University in Ohio, where he earned a BA in Broadcast Marketing. Recently retired, Bryan and his wife, Kathy reside in Hamburg, New York and are actively involved in special projects dedicated to helping the community including Roswell Park Foundation, The Billittier Foundation, Buffalo Hearing and Speech, Mercy Flight and St. Mary’s School For The Deaf.

Benefactors

J.P.’s Foundation, Inc. is proud to collaborate with the many volunteers from Autism Services, Inc. whose extraordinary efforts have made Run the ‘Burg for Autism and J.P.’s Green Jacket Open / Golfing for Autism possible. We are committed to being a model of effectiveness and maintain a small but efficient foundation so contributions directly support beneficiaries and not overhead costs. Net proceeds from these events will be donated primarily to benefit Autism Services, Inc. in support of the many programs run for the benefit of individuals living with the daily challenges of autism. While staging such events invariably requires many hours of dedication and attention and there are numerous expenses to cover in the process, J.P.’s Foundation has no paid employees and none of the Board Members receive any form of compensation out of any of the proceeds generated from or the generous donations received for either of these wonderful events.

Autism Services, Inc.
Our unique philosophy and dedicated staff empower people with autism to be themselves at home and in the community. From humble beginnings 30 years ago as a 12-month education program, Autism Services has grown to become the leading WNY agency supporting children and adults with autism and their families, with locations throughout the area offering a range of individualized educational and quality of life programs and services.

Autism Services provides a NYS-certified school for ages 5-12, Adult Day Programs, Residential Programs, Supported Employment, Family Support Services including Medicaid Service Coordination, Respite, In-Home Clinical Support Program, Therapeutic Recreation for Children with Autism (TRAC) and After School and Vacation Camp Programs, Social Skills Program, and more. ASI maintains two lending resource libraries open to parents, professionals, and students.

Autism Services' signature Arts Programs were introduced in 2002 by Executive Director Veronica Federiconi, to give children and adults with autism the opportunity to become involved in the visual and performing arts. Today ASI artists and performers are valued as an important part of the cultural fabric of Buffalo and Western New York, and beyond, achieving personal and professional milestones such as solo exhibitions, community recognition, and awards.

Autism Services, Inc. Resource Center

Autism Services, Inc. Resource Center, located at 97 Main Street in the Village of Hamburg, is a community resource offering support and services to the Southtowns communities, made possible by J.P.'s Foundation. The Center provides workshops, outreach activities, respite services, support groups (Asperger's, siblings, social skills, etc.), and features a conference center, J.P.'s Foundation Art Gallery, and the Kyle Reid Resource Library. For hours and more information, click here.