Building A Better Buffalo

https://bizj.us/1q9fmh

When Dionne Williamson takes calls for her day job, she works to sell the region and highlighting why it’s a great place to work and live.

As national sales director and a certified diversity meeting professional with Visit Buffalo Niagara, Williamson has spent the last 17 years helping to attract visitors.

But her passion is helping people who already live here start over as founder/CEO of UPward Design for Life Corp. The nonprofit furnishes and decorates homes for individuals and families making a fresh start at rebuilding their lives.

“It’s furnishings and making a space feel like a home, but we’re giving people hope and hope is a powerful thing,” she said.

A Lackawanna native, Williamson served in the U.S. Army before earning a degree in business administration from Medaille College. But she also had a passion for crafts and design, even running her own greeting card business for six years.

As a child she watched her parents stretch every dollar for their five children in a one-income household. Her father worked at Bethlehem Steel for 34 years, painting houses on the side. Her mom ran the house, insisting on a very clean, orderly home that was always nicely decorated, often with finds from Goodwill.

“I learned early the impact of your surroundings, but you don’t have to spend a lot,” she said. “I love to paint — it’s a perfect way of changing your environment and it’s not expensive to do.”

Later, when she started volunteering with the Family Justice Center, she saw women and families who needed a change but lacked resources to make it happen.

She modeled the organization after one in Detroit she saw on social media.

“I had started an interior design business and felt like it just wasn’t the same thing, it wasn’t addressing a real need,” she said. “I wanted to serve people who could not really afford the services of an interior designer.”

Clients are referred from community organizations. Williamson starts with a home visit, where she takes measurements and gets a sense of what they need.

That often includes curtains, area rugs and lamps as well as dishes, glassware and small appliances like toasters and blenders. Every member of the family gets a bed with new mattresses, pillows and linen.

On the day of the installation, Williamson relies on volunteers and donated items, refurnishing apartments in two to three hours.

Since the first install in 2018, the organization has helped 42 families. Things slowed down during the pandemic, but UPward is back on track with a goal of serving two families each month.

“Many times people say it’s like HGTV but it’s so much deeper than that: We’re dealing with individuals who have gone through some tremendous challenges,” she said. “We’re giving their sense of dignity back. Home is everything.”

Dionne Williamson

Community: Founder/CEO of UPward Design for Life Corp.

Day job: Visit Buffalo Niagara, national sales director/certified diversity meeting professional

Favorite superhero: Harriet Tubman

Self-description: Loving

What keeps you up at night: Nothing really keeps me up at night: As long as I know my family is safe, I have nothing to stress about.

Good Neighbors: UPward Design For Life

Dionne Williamson takes donations of gently used furniture and household items, and transforms the homes - and lives - of people in need of a fresh start.

Author: Melissa Holmes

Published: 5:19 AM EST January 27, 2021

https://www.wgrz.com/article/life/people/good-neighbors/good-neighbors-upward-furniture-donations/71-88c3e9ac-1f62-4137-bad5-fcb6c2075fca

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Dionne Williamson is a National Sales Director for Visit Buffalo Niagara full-time, but in her spare time, she wanted to use her passion and talents to help people.

"I have a passion for interior design and I love helping people so this was the perfect combination," said Williamson, who is also a Certified Interior Design Consultant.

Four years ago, Williamson established UPward Design for Life, with the goal of "furnishing homes and transforming lives for those in need." She collects donations of gently used furniture, décor and household items from the community. Once a member agency refers a client, Williamson and her volunteers get to work, turning a living space into a home. 

 "We actually go in and place the furniture, we hang the pictures and curtains, and lay down areas rugs and accent pieces just to make it feel complete and like a home," said Williamson.

They serve anyone transitioning from a shelter, domestic violence survivors, refugees, veterans, young people aging out of foster care, and individuals looking for a fresh start. 

"So it's a perfect opportunity to take other people's used items and repurpose them for a greater good for another family who needs them," she said. 

Mettra Thompson of Cheektowaga escaped a dangerous relationship and recently transitioned out of a shelter for abused women. She's trying to get back on her feet but she doesn't have the means to furnish her new apartment.

"My abuser messed up a lot of my things, and I didn't have a bed and was sleeping on my couch," Thompson said.

The shelter referred Thompson to UPward Design for Life, and last weekend Williamson and her children delivered a couch, bed, mattress, dresser, linens, curtains, décor, and hand-painted artwork. They set it all up and transformed Williamson's apartment.

"There's a caring heart out there. And Dionne is one of them. She's an angel. I've got a bed to sleep in. It's just a blessing for me."

What the recipients get is much more than just a home makeover- it's dignity, worthiness, and the confidence to start anew.

"You want to feel good about the place that you call home and it's wonderful to be able to give people that feeling," said Williamson.

If you're interested in donating items, making a monetary donation, volunteering or helping in other ways, please visit UPwardDesignForLife.org. 

UPward Design for Life Receives Grant Award from the Josephine Goodyear Foundation

UPward Design for Life, Corp. is beyond thrilled and grateful to have received a grant award of $5,000 through the generosity of the Josephine Goodyear Foundation at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo! This grant is designated to assist with operational expenses including truck rentals and mattress purchases, for families in need.

“The pandemic is causing additional hardship, for individuals and families who were already in need. This grant award is more important than ever,” says Dionne Williamson, President and Founder. This is the second grant UDFL has received since beginning operations in January of 2018. Dionne and the UDFL Board of Directors are appreciative of the Josephine Goodyear Foundation’s support.

UPward Design for Life teams up with Beds For Buffalo!

On Saturday, October 10, 2020, UPward Design for Life - UDFL finally teamed up with Beds For Buffalo to serve a family in need. COVID-19 prevented previous plans, for both organizations to work together back in March, so both were pleased to finally have this opportunity. The Beds For Buffalo project is offered through The Service Collaborative and will build 200 twin beds, for children in need by engaging students, corporate teams and community volunteers. The Service Collaborative of WNY will distribute completed beds through identified community partners that serve families surviving poverty. https://www.tscwny.org/Beds-for-Buffalo

This most recent UPward Design for Life - UDFL project involved serving a mother and five children ages 5-12. Although UDFL provides beds and new mattresses for children, the valuable partnership with Beds For Buffalo will now allow UDFL to take the financial savings and apply to other program expenses.

“We were delighted to finally deliver beds to children in our community and partner with such a meaningful organization.” said Adam Bartoszek, Director of VolunteerWNY. “It was wonderful to finally team up!  The kids loved their beds!  It brought such big smiles to their faces.  Mission accomplished!  Looking forward to working together again very soon.” said Dionne Williamson, President and Founder of UDFL.

Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition

As a non-profit organization that also serves individuals who are challenged by mental illness, it is important for us to support other organizations that are taking initiatives towards eliminating the stigma associated with this disorder. This is the only way for communities to effectively work together to serve those who need assistance and bring greater awareness to mental illness, in order to help prevent discrimination and the negative judgement toward those who are living with it.

Consider signing the campaign pledge at https://letstalkstigma.org/support/pledge/ and get others to do the same!

UPward Design for Life Receives its First Grant Award from the Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Dionne Williamson, President and Founder of UPward Design for Life, Corp., had the opportunity and extreme pleasure of presenting to the Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle during their one-year anniversary general members meeting. UDFL was one of three non-profit organizations competing for the grant.

During the voting process UDFL received 58% of the votes and was the proud grant recipient of $5,965.00. This is the very first grant UDFL has been awarded and hoping that this is the beginning of more funding support to come! The Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle is a diverse, dynamic, and inspiring collective of women in Western New York that intends to positively impact the lives of women and children. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.ffwgc.org.

“FFWGC will always hold a special place in our hearts as the first organization to believe in the mission of our organization and the work we are accomplishing, in our community.” says Dionne.

Thank you, Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle!

First Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event

On Thursday, October 17, 2019, UPward Design For Life Founder/President, Dionne Williamson, and the Board of Directors hosted its first Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event to thank all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the first year and ten months of the organizations’ existence, to help furnish homes and transform lives for those in need.

Volunteering with UDFL consists of picking up donations from donors, organizing inventory at the warehouse, taking dishware home to wash, refurbishing donated items when needed and of course furnishing homes for individuals and families. To all the 30 volunteers who have helped change the lives of the roughly 30 families we’ve served, we THANK YOU! A very special thank recognition goes out to Sufana Wajed, Frank Movalli and the Williamson Family: Andre Sr., Imani, Malia and Andre Jr., for going above and beyond with extensive volunteer time and efforts to make the work we do so meaningful.

Thank you, to the UDFL Board Members, for your wonderful contributions toward making our volunteers feel special and appreciated. We look forward to celebrating our volunteers again next year!

Child & Family Services - Annual Celebration of Friends

On June 19th, Dionne Williamson, President & Founder of UPward Design For Life, Corp., was the humble recipient of the William B. Hoyt Memorial Advocacy Award. Special thanks to the Child & Family Services staff and Board, for this wonderful honor and for being one of UDFL’s most active partner agencies. Looking forward to many more years of collaboration, to continue to help improvement the lives, of those in need in our community.

Spreading Hope by Transforming Living Spaces

By Matthew Biddle | December 28, 2018 - Buffalo Magazine

https://buffalo.com/2018/12/28/spreading-hope-by-transforming-living-spaces/

Dionne Williamson has seen, time and time again, the power and joy that a safe, comfortable home can give to those who need it the most. A woman, who finally feels at home, is moved to tears by seeing her kitchen cabinets stocked with dishes and glassware. A child beams from ear to ear because she finally has her own bedroom after living in a homeless shelter. Less stressed, a mother can focus on her children because her house is well-furnished and secure.

“Everyone deserves a nice home,” Williamson said. “When you come home, your place should welcome you—it should say, ‘Welcome home. You’ve had a rough day, now you can kick your feet up for a while.’”

Williamson is the founder of Upward Design for Life, a nonprofit that provides new and gently used furnishings to individuals and families who are transitioning into their own residence and need assistance with basic essentials. All of her clients are referred by partner agencies, including the Family Justice Center, Child & Family Services, Erie County Social Services and Buffalo City Mission. Often, they have been recently homeless or are domestic violence survivors.

“We all need help from time to time,” said Williamson, a certified interior design consultant who spends her day as the national sales director for Visit Buffalo Niagara. “This is not going to answer all of their prayers or solve all of their problems, but it’s one piece to say, ‘Hey, you don’t have to worry about this. Let us do this for you.’”

Upward Design for Life launched in January 2018 and, as of October, had completed 13 projects, relying solely on volunteers, monetary contributions and donations of furniture, decor or other services. In-kind partners, like the Buffalo Museum of Science and Hyatt Regency, have also stepped up by donating complimentary admission and hotel stays for the family to enjoy during their installation.

This fall, the organization moved into a 2,000-square-foot warehouse space that will allow it to support more clients—a huge boost from its previous 12-by-10-foot storage unit.

“It’s not just giving them a table and a sofa,” Williamson said. “When you have those extra things donated—pictures on the wall, flowers and plants, things that make it inviting—and we can put it all together, it gives people a new sense of dignity.”

Story topics: BufFYI

UPward Design For Life's First Warehouse Fundraiser

Special thanks to all who attended our first fundraiser in our new warehouse space! Because of your contributions we were able to raise $715! Not bad for a fundraiser planned in just three weeks.

A very special thanks to Premiere Gourmet for providing the sparking cider, Hale Northeastern for the red carpet treatment and Maureen’s Wholesale Flower shop for the beautiful floral arrangements. Last but not least Will Holton, saxophone extraordinaire, for providing the space with smooth sounds that we would have otherwise not be able to create on our own.

All of your contributions and the assistance from volunteers and family helped make this a very special evening. Thank you!

Brightening Living Spaces And Days To Come

Spectrum News Buffalo Report by Maura Christie | September 1, 2018

http://specne.ws/DL1iT6

Since 2010, Elizabeth Barnes was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, forced into early retirement and became homeless. Barnes fought to get back on her feet and moved into a new apartement with her daughter in June, but something was still missing.

"We haven't had a couch to sit on or anything so this is such a blessing," she said.

That blessing, UPward Design For Life, a non-profit that helps furnish and decorate spaces for those trying to start over.

After launching in January, the non-profit has collected enough donations to be able to help twelve families, including Barnes'.

"She's putting curtains up, she's putting pictures up, I mean it's incredible, I had no idea this is what it was going to be like," Barnes said.

Dionne Williamson who started UPward design for life, says she's happy to be able to play a role in helping these families.

"The reactions are incredible and everyone, every single person has been super grateful so, and like I always, always say, it's not a handout, it's a hand upward. So these are individuals who are already doing what they need to do to create a better life for themselves and their families and getting themselves out of situations that may not have been healthy, to start anew," said Williamson.

As simple as the gesture may be, it can make all the difference.

"If you can give someone a table, a sofa to sit on, a bed to sleep on, even if it is an air mattress, it's not sleeping on the floor," Williamson said.

"Living in this place with nothing  was very hard on me and my daughter, she's 14, it's already making me feel like I have a real home," Barnes said.

By the end of the year, Williamson hopes to help at least five more families. But to fill those spaces properly she needs more furniture and other home items donated, as well as funds.

"The donations we receive are fantastic, we always need furnishings, however we do need financial assistance because with each install, there's money that goes into doing each install, so financial contributions are so needed," Williamson said.

For more information on how to donate, visit upwarddesignforlife.org.

How I Started A Nonprofit Organization

Medaille Magazine - Summer 2018 - alumni updates

UPward Design For Life Acquires its First Hotel In-Kind Sponsor

UPward Design For Life Corporation is thrilled to have acquired the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, owned by Visions Hotels, as its first hotel in-kind sponsor all thanks to General Manager, Matt Spencer.  The hotel is located at 601 Main Street in downtown Buffalo and is currently undergoing renovations.  Matt suggested to hotel owners that all furnishings and accessories no longer being used should be donated to our organization.  

There are approximately 120 of EACH item being donated!  This is such a big deal for UDFL! We are so excited about the families that will benefit from this thanks to Matt and the generosity of Visions Hotels.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  

Buffalo Niagara Travel Professionals Supports UPward Design For Life

Dionne Williamson, Founder, was overjoyed to learn that UPward Design For Life Corp. was selected as the non-profit organization the Buffalo Niagara Travel Professionals will be sponsoring this year.  The first donation collection, by BNTP members, proved to be a success!   

Dionne Williamson with BNTPs' President, Verity Folan, as she receives generous donations from members of the organization.

Much needed cleaning supplies that will be used by volunteers to help clean and spruce up donated furnishings and residences.  Additionally cleaning supplies are also donated to the families being served so they can continue the process of keeping their home clean. 

Non-Profit Helps Family Displaced by Hurricane Maria

Spectrum NewS Buffalo Report

Buffalo is feeling a lot more like home for a family forced to relocate here after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. This, thanks to the the generosity of one organization and lots of volunteers. Spectrum News Reporter Kevin Jolly has their story. 

http://www.spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2018/04/01/buffalo-non-profit-hurricane-maria.html

Living room before and after

Spectrum News Buffalo Report

LOCAL NON-PROFIT USING FURNITURE TO IMPROVE LIVES  

http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2018/02/17/nadine-mastroleo-upward-design-for-life

By Maura Christie  |  February 17, 2018 @5:02 PM

Nadine Mastroleo grew up in Buffalo. After her parents passed away, she wanted to follow their wishes and donate their belongings. 

"I think the main reason is because my parents literally have always wanted to do good things to help other people that maybe needed a little bit of extra help at a time. So one of the things we decided was let's find a group, an organization that can really benefit from all the efforts my parents put into kind of establishing a really good life for me and my sister," she said.

And with a little help from the city of good neighbors, she found UPward Design For Life.

"UPward Design For Life is a non-profit organization that basically furnishes homes and transforms lives for those in need. So if people are transitioning from homeless shelters, domestic violence situations, people who just need help, refugees reestablishing themselves here, veterans and children. That's the type of client that we serve," said founder Dionne Williamson.

Williamson wants to use her love of interior design to show people you don't need a lot of money to create a comfortable and safe place. 

"So our goal is not to provide a hand out, it's not a hand out I always say it's a hand upward. So we're here to help those who are already trying to help themselves but just need a little extra help," she said.

Gently used furniture and other household items are donated from people who no longer have use for them. 

Williamson said, "For those who are donating, it's really something special to them because they see the value and what, what this can bring to someone in need."

For Mastroleo, she wants other families to cherish traditions like her family did.

"My family was really big on having dinners together and so I have this vision of our dining room table being set up, and having a family meal and talking about their day and learning from each other and that's what we used to do. And so to me, I'm paying it forward in some ways."  

Nadine Mastroleo-Donor

Dionne Williamson with team of vounteers.

Anything that was needed was available to take.

Free truck rental from Life Storage.

Life Storage to the rescue!

So fortunate to have obtained our first corporate sponsor!  THANK YOU, Life Storage, for believing in UPward Design For Life and offering six months of free storage to help us move forward with obtaining more donations and not incurring overhead costs, for our newly formed non-profit organization.  We are so appreciative!

Not too cold for a donation pick-up!

We are beyond grateful to receive a fantastic donation, from Lorraine, this week.  The four-month-old sofa she donated is in perfect condition!  We're very excited about the family that will benefit from her generosity.