Our purpose is to bring comfort to the community

CEO

Kathleen Granchelli

granchelli@ywcanf.org
716-433-6714 x212

Kathleen A. Granchelli has been CEO of the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier for the past 27 years. The YWCA supports the women and families of Niagara County with its mission of eliminating racism and the economic empowerment of women. Under Kathleen’s tenure, the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier has secured over $20 million in grants to expand programs and services in Niagara County and northern Erie County. The YWCA has been recognized for visionary housing, domestic violence, economic self-sufficiency programs and social enterprise programs and for its ability to leverage funding to bring critical programs to the local community. Funding for new programs has included state and local investment dollars for comprehensive domestic violence and sexual abuse prevention, early childhood and school age childhood programs and over $6 million for the adaptive re-use of “Carolyn’s House” a historic facility in Niagara Falls providing supportive transitional and permanent housing for homeless women and children. In 2015, the YWCA merged with the Tonawanda’s Affiliate to become the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier. The YWCA’s newest project is a 2022 adaptive reuse of the former YWCA Tonawanda’s facility to include permanent housing and a social enterprise café.

Prior to becoming CEO at the YWCA, Kathleen was an Assistant Vice President at Goldome Bank and Key Bank in Buffalo and a Legislative Assistant to Congressman John LaFalce. Kathleen received her BS and MPA (ABD) at SUNY Brockport and is also a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School program for State and Local Government. Kathleen is a Leadership Niagara Graduate, a member of the Niagara County Work Force Investment Board, a Trustee of YWCA USA Retirement Fund, former President of the YWCA’s of New York State, a Niagara University St. Vincent DePaul and St. Louise de Marillac Awardee and a New York State Woman of Distinction. Kathleen and her husband Richard live in Lockport and have four grown children.

Vice President of Housing

Kathy Jackson

jackson@ywcanf.org
716-433-6714 x218

Kathy Jackson is the Vice President of Housing at the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier. She is a lifelong resident of Lockport and graduate of SUNY Brockport with a BA in Sociology. She has been employed by the YWCA for sixteen years, fifteen as Domestic Violence Safe House Manager and one year as VP of Housing. Kathy also volunteers her time for a number of efforts, including the Board of Directors for the Eastern Niagara United Way as well as a campaign volunteer for several years, Life Member and former President of Lockport Junior Service League, Board of Directors and volunteer for Lockport Meals on Wheels, and Board Member for Lockport Catholic Schools and Member of the DeSales Move of Faith Committee.