Executive Director Jennifer Rizzo-Choi was among the non-profit leaders honored statewide for their exemplary work. City & State, a media organization that covers New York’s local and state politics and policy, named Rizzo-Choi as part of its list of 2026 Nonprofit Trailblazers. According to City & State, Nonprofit Trailblazers recognizes “leaders who have dedicated their careers and lives to making New York a better, safer place to live through adherence to the principles of charity, diversity, sustainability and governance.”
Of the 75 nonprofit leaders honored, only three are from Western New York. Along with Rizzo-Choi, other local nonprofit leaders honored as trailblazers include Eric Dryja, Vice President of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics at Spectrum Health & Human Services, and Franchelle Parker, Executive Director of Open Buffalo.
Click here to see the entire list of honorees.