Greetings!  I am Dionne Williamson, Director and Founder of UPward Design For Life, Corp.  I am a dedicated social entrepreneur who is committed to serving my community.

Why I Founded UPward Design for Life™

I have always believed that true success comes from using our gifts to serve others and make a lasting impact on the world around us.

Through my creative talents, organizational skills, and love for community service, I founded UPward Design for Life™—an organization dedicated to transforming empty spaces into homes for individuals and families making a fresh start. Our work is beneficial: everyone deserves a clean, comfortable, and safe place to call home.

We help people who are taking courageous steps to rebuild their lives—survivors of domestic violence, refugees, veterans, and others facing hardships—by providing gently used and refurbished furnishings and accessories. Not only do these individuals get a fresh start, but the furnishings themselves are given a second chance to bring comfort and joy into someone’s life while avoiding landfills.

My Journey

For close to 20 years I worked in the hospitality and tourism industry. I worked with clients from all walks of life, promoting Buffalo as a convention and tourism destination. My work contributed to the economic development of Buffalo and Erie County—but I realized I wanted to do more for the people who call Buffalo home, especially those in need of the most basic necessities.

After conversations with local non-profits, like the Family Justice Center of Erie County, where I served as an Ambassador, and speaking with domestic violence survivors, I recognized a glaring gap in services—there was no organization in our area doing what we are doing now and the way we are doing it. When my efforts to bring a similar Detroit-based concept to Buffalo went unanswered, I knew I had to take the leap and build it myself.

I also hold an Interior Design Consultant Certification from the New York Institute of Art and Design. I’ve always been a 'can do' person and a risk taker. My parents taught me the value of hard work and getting your hands dirty to make a difference—and I carry that lesson into everything I do.

UDFL Operations TimeLine and Benchmarks

• Articles of Incorporation established - July 2017

• 501(c)3 status approved - December 2017

• Began operations - January 2018

• First client served - March 2018

• Awarded first financial grant - March 2020 from the Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle

• Completed 3-5 Strategic Plan - August 2021

• Executive Director & Founder, Dionne Williamson, resigns from her full-time job to become a full-time volunteer at UDFL - September 2021

• Dionne Williamson moves from a full-time volunteer role to become UDFL’s first official employee - June 1, 2022

• UDFL serves its 100th family - December 2023