Stanley P. Spisiak Legacy Society

Peter Gold and Athalie Joy have been supporters and donors to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for many years. Peter knew of the organization and people back in its early days while he was a professor at Rachel Carson College, an undergraduate environmental program of the University at Buffalo, conducting environmental research on the Buffalo River with students. He’s seen quite the change to both the river and the city. 

“You would have been crazy to be kayaking,” Peter said of the Buffalo River in the past. “You wouldn’t want to go anywhere near the water. We knew it was contaminated. The water was contaminated. The sediment was contaminated. It was just obvious, all you had to do was look at it and you knew it was in bad shape.” 

Over 30 years later, the Buffalo River and surrounding region are much different. It’s a destination. There are waterway access points, businesses have opened near the shore, and housing was created for people who want to be on the water.  

“Clearly, we have a waterfront now. We didn’t have a waterfront. And we have a river that we didn’t have before,” Peter said. “What I’ve always liked about Waterkeeper is that they recognized who had to be in on the solution to the problem. To me it was essential in that they could bring together agencies and groups that needed to work together to get the problem fixed, including ordinary citizens who were interested in this.  

“And when Waterkeeper successfully completes one project, that means it makes it easier to get the next project done.” 

Knowing the effort that went into the cleanups encouraged Peter and Athalie to make regular contributions, and they are looking to make sure their support continues far into the future as they have established a legacy endowment. It will benefit five different groups in the region, with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper as one of the beneficiaries.  

“We both have loved living in Buffalo because of what we’ve been a part of, what it’s offered us, and we wanted to keep that sense of this as a special place where good things happen,” Peter said. “A modest amount of money can do a lot of good in Buffalo. We want to see clean water and all the benefits that it offers, and we want to help achieve that. That’s why it’s a legacy gift.” 

The money will go to the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, which will then disperse the funds to each organization, including Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.  

“The Community Foundation knows how its money is being used, and Waterkeeper knows how to use the money,” Peter said.  

When creating this endowment, Peter and Athalie said it was important to find groups that would last and spend the money well. Peter highlighted the Waterkeeper’s annual Riverwatch water quality report and Spring Sweep cleanups as things he wanted to see continued.  

 “When I saw Waterkeeper’ [Riverwatch] report, I said, ‘that builds on what I wish I could have done, but could never have done, 40 years ago.’ And they were involving citizens in a way that I thought was good and that I thought ought to continue. 

“Another thing that I like about Waterkeeper is the cleanups [like Spring Sweep]. They involve people, especially young people who will become the next generation of people looking after the waterways.” 

Waterkeeper has established the Stanley P. Spisiak Legacy Society for people who wish to support Waterkeeper through a planned gift, including gifts of stock, retirement funds, or beneficiary designations through their Will or life insurance. 

“We still make annual contributions, and I think those are important,” Peter said. “A legacy gift makes me feel good because we’re passing on to the next generation what we think is important. We feel it’s our responsibility to leave the world a better place.” 

To learn more about the Stanley P. Spisiak Legacy Society, please contact James Bender, Director of Development, who can share your Planned Giving options and answer any questions. He can be reached at jbender@bnwaterkeeper.org.