Eddy Luce | PEACE, Inc.

Arby’s Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant to PEACE, Inc.’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Program

by Eddy Luce | Jul 15, 2025 | News and Information

The Arby’s Foundation has selected PEACE, Inc.’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program as a recipient of a $25,000 grant to inspire children’s passions and encourage them to achieve success in life. Through this partnership, vulnerable youth in our community will have a positive role model and receive the support of a caring adult.

About the Arby’s Foundation

The Arby’s Foundation, the independent charitable arm of Arby’s, helps America’s kids dream big and pursue their dreams with confidence. Building on a philanthropic heritage that has contributed more than $100 million to youth-related causes since its inception in 1986, the Arby’s Foundation is committed to helping kids build, expand, and pursue their dreams as we focus our efforts in childhood hunger, youth leadership and career readiness initiatives. The Arby’s Foundation is part of the Inspire Brands Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.foundation.arbys.com.

About PEACE, Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters

Incorporated in 1968, PEACE, Inc. is a federal designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that serves nearly 10,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and portions of Oswego County. With a guiding principle of “Maximum Feasible Participation,” or the concept that those who are served by the CAA must also be involved with the organization’s decision-making processes, the agency pursues a mission to “help people in the community realize their potential for becoming self-sufficient.” It does so through 9 antipoverty services: Free Tax Prep, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), Family Services (FRCs) Head Start and Early Head Start (HS, EHS), its Department of Energy and Housing, Foster Grandparents, Eastwood Community Center, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Support Services. For more information, visit www.peace-caa.org.

Since its founding in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has been recognized as the nation’s preeminent 1-to-1 mentorship program. Research shows that 1-to-1 mentoring improves a child’s confidence, academic performance, and decision-making. Through Community- and School- based mentoring, PEACE, Inc.’s BBBS branch continues doing this important work in matching kids (Littles) with mentors (Bigs) in Onondaga County and parts of Oswego County.

Media Contact
Elizabeth O’Hara, Director
PEACE, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters
Email: bohara@peace-caa.org
Phone: 315-470-3369 ext. 362

Broadview Federal Credit Union Delivers Essential Diaper Donation to Head Start Families

by Eddy Luce | Jul 14, 2025 | News and Information

“Thank you so much, Broadview Federal Credit Union, for the generous diaper donation! Our families in need will be so grateful for your help and support! Your kindness speaks volumes to our community!” -Kelly Jensen, Sumner HS/EHS Site Supervisor

Diapers are a necessary -yet costly- expense for families. We’re grateful for Broadview Federal Credit Union and its “Diaper Days of Summer” campaign. On Thursday, July 10th, 3 carloads of diapers were delivered to our Sumner Head Start site! Thank you, Broadview, for the donation and for all that you do throughout the community. Without donors like you, we wouldn’t be able to assist the community as we do!

If you’re interested in helping our community work, please visit our website and consider donating. Click here!

PEACE, Inc. Pauses its AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program effective immediately

by Eddy Luce | Jul 1, 2025 | News and Information

It is with great sadness to announce that PEACE, Inc. will pause its AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program, effective immediately.

This decision does not come lightly. While AmeriCorps Seniors approved PEACE, Inc.’s 3-year renewal application for federal funding year 2025, the awarded dollars continue to be impounded by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This impoundment is affecting every AmeriCorps Seniors program across the country that has been approved for a 3-year contract renewal. Like others then, the PEACE, Inc. Foster Grandparent Program cannot continue our important work until the funds are released.

This is an especially troubling development for a city like Syracuse, where poverty among seniors has skyrocketed over the past 15 years and childhood poverty is the worst in the nation. Since 1972, the PEACE, Inc. Foster Grandparent Program has allowed low-income senior volunteers to share their time and talents by mentoring at-risk children in our community. This school year, 68 Foster Grandparents volunteers provided one-to-one attention, encouragement, and support to 225 Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and Head Start children who needed assistance overcoming social-emotional and academic challenges. Likewise, the volunteers themselves gained renewed purpose, companionship, and a modest stipend that helped ease financial strain. The program’s impact is indisputable:

81% of participating students exhibited improved social-emotional skills due partly to the time spent with Foster Grandparents. For one SCSD principal, “the Foster Grandparent Program at Delaware Primary is thriving and making a positive impact on the classes they serve and our school community as a whole.”
92% of their Foster Grandparents reported their mental and emotional health had improved due to the program, underscoring how giving back can be just as transformative as receiving help. For one volunteer, “the program has given me a reason to get up and going. I love the kids and they give me such joy. I have a purpose in my life now.”

If you want this important work to continue, please contact your local United States Congressman. Ask them to contact OMB and to release funds for AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Programs such as PEACE, Inc. For those who desire it, a letter template is available here.

Press Release

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Connecting for Kids: Onondaga County’s Family Resource Fair

by Eddy Luce | Jun 25, 2025 | News and Information

We had a great time at Onondaga County’s recent Family Resource Fair on June 12th, 2025, hosted by the SRC Arena and the NYS Department of Labor. Over 170 businesses and organizations were there to offer over 8,000 jobs, career counseling, resume review, and family resources for the community.

We love events like these for two reasons. They’re a fantastic chance to connect with new families for Head Start and Early Head Start. They also make it easy to network with dedicated individuals who represent a wide range of support services for families and children in our community. It’s a great reminder that we’re all in this together, and it takes many hands to help our children grow into happy, healthy, productive citizens.

Congratulations to Tanisha Wade, our Employee of the Month for June!

by Eddy Luce | Jun 24, 2025 | News and Information

Tanisha Wade has worked within our Head Start program for almost three years, and she is currently a Health Advocate for our Merrick classroom site and for our collaboration with the Salvation Army Cab Horse Commons Child Care Center. Her notable recent achievements include helping to introduce the Chompers Dental Program this year to Cab Horse staff and families, and preemptively getting medical attention for a student upon spotting the early signs of an allergic reaction. Tanisha has been a particularly strong advocate for children in our program with food allergies and has helped staff understand infection control procedures. She is also known for supporting classroom coverage whenever needed, and for being very diligent and thorough about following proper procedures and always consulting with her site’s nurse.

Congratulations to and thanks to Tanisha Wade, our Employee of the Month for June!

Photo: Employee of the Month Tanisha Wade (seated) with (L to R) HS/EHS Health Coordinator Tammi Hatch, RN Christina Lear, Merrick Site Supervisor Lynette Durkin, and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.