Background

Brush Up Buffalo is an all volunteer, not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1996. Modeled after similar events held in Flint, Michigan and Tampa, Florida, Brush Up Buffalo was brought to Buffalo by the East Side Industrial Forum. The forum consisted of American Axle & Manufacturing, JW Danforth, Niagara Mohawk, Ford Motor Company, Stritt and Priebe, and others.

Brush Up Buffalo works in diverse areas of the City of Buffalo to revitalize neighborhoods and build community pride. Each year, Brush Up Buffalo selects a neighborhood cluster and assigns teams of members and volunteers representing corporations, government and community groups to paint single-family, owner-occupied homes of low-income homeowners.

Since its inception, Brush Up Buffalo has painted more than 200 homes covering more than a half dozen neighborhood clusters, utilizing volunteer labor, donated and purchased goods and services.