$500,000 KeyBank investment in Say Yes Niagara Falls expands higher education access for local students

Funding will provide support to Niagara Falls students in pursuing educational & career goals

The KeyBank Foundation is investing $500,000 in Say Yes Niagara Falls to help remove financial barriers to higher education for public school students in the Niagara Falls City School District.

The purpose of Say Yes Niagara Falls is to build a strong support system that empowers students to pursue and achieve their educational and career goals. By establishing a sustainable infrastructure that has been modeled after the success of Say Yes Buffalo, this project aims to ensure that future generations continue to benefit from these opportunities in perpetuity, cultivating long-term community growth.

A press conference was held Tuesday in the Niagara Falls High School library. Many district personnel and leaders attended the event, as did a senior economics and government class to hear about the grant’s impact.

Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie addresses the crowd. (Photo by Madeline Dorobiala)

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Mark Laurrie, superintendent of Niagara Falls City School District, was the first to thank KeyBank and Say Yes Buffalo. He noted the Niagara Falls graduation rate increased to 86%.

“We’re able to improve things like that because we work as a team, we work as a team in the district, we work as a team in the community,” Laurrie said. “We have great partners with us.”

Laurrie said that, although Niagara Falls already has programs and activities that generate student involvement, the grant will amplify student advocacy and leave a lasting impact.

A high school senior gave her testimonial and provided a student perspective of the grant. Haryjot Kaur is a student representative of Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education. She expressed her gratitude to KeyBank for its support.

Haryjot said her post-high-school plans include a pursuit of becoming a nurse practitioner. She said Say Yes Niagara Falls is vital to the student body and community.

“And I think that’s really important, because generosity like this creates a ripple effect that continues to improve, not only with individuals, but with families, as well,” Haryjot said.

This grant represents the latest chapter in KeyBank’s longstanding support of the Say Yes partnership, building on investments made since 2015.

Say Yes Buffalo CEO David Rust. (Photo by Madeline Dorobiala)

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"This remarkable investment from KeyBank reflects a shared belief in the potential of Niagara Falls students,” said David Rust, CEO of Say Yes Buffalo. "This support brings us closer to our vision of creating a permanent endowment that ensures graduates of Niagara Falls High School have access to the opportunities they deserve while helping build the skilled workforce our region needs.”

He also said, “We chose Niagara Falls due to proximity, important regional economy. We really believe in the people and the young people here; so, it’s been an incredible partnership.”

Grant funds will be allocated to the Niagara Falls Scholarship Endowment Fund to support Niagara Falls students in pursuing their educational and career goals, laying the groundwork for long-term generational success. 

“We are looking at 170,000 local jobs in two counties in the next decade, with two-thirds requiring post-secondary credentials,” Rust said. “We want those jobs to be for our young people and for everyone to have access to a good job and a fulfilling life – and a key step on that is the pathway to post-secondary success.”

As the most significant gift to the endowment yet, this $500,000 contribution from KeyBank will bring the fund closer to its $20 million goal and serve as a catalyst to drive further investment, with the intention of building a “forever fund” to support higher education scholarships.

“Removing financial barriers so students can pursue college and career training is central to our mission of helping the communities we serve thrive, and we’re excited to help strengthen the region’s talent pipeline,” said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo market president. “KeyBank is proud to partner with Say Yes Niagara Falls to support students now and in the years to come.”

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino speaks to attendees. (Photo by Madeline Dorobiala)

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Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the grant is pivotal for the Niagara Falls community.

“And ultimately, speaking with the superintendent, I knew that the minute I invited them to come together, that this was going to work,” he said.

When it becomes fully funded, the Say Yes Niagara Falls scholarship program will cover tuition costs remaining after federal (Pell), state (TAP) aid, and institutional financial aid, ensuring students in public and charter schools have access to postsecondary education. Scholarships will help cover the cost of attending two-year, four-year, and certificate programs, including credential-bearing programs associated with completing the apprenticeship program.

In addition, eligible students can receive a commuter grant and financial assistance with on-campus living arrangements.

“Every Niagara Falls student who dreams of college deserves the chance to say ‘Yes’ to such aspiration. This investment helps clear the path so students can focus on learning, graduating, and building their futures,” said Chiwuike Owunwanne, KeyBank Buffalo corporate responsibility and community relations officer. “We’re honored to support Niagara Falls students and families as they turn aspiration into achievement.”

Since 2017, KeyBank has made more than $1.7 billion in investments in Buffalo and Western New York, supporting affordable housing and community development projects; small business and home lending to low-to-moderate-income individuals and communities; and transformative philanthropy.

KeyCorp's roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany. Now headquartered in Cleveland, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion on Sept. 30, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/.

Launched in 2012, the Say Yes Buffalo partnership is a community collaboration dedicated to strengthening the city’s public school system and increasing high school and postsecondary graduation rates. It is comprised of the Buffalo Public School District, City of Buffalo, Erie County, the Buffalo Teachers Federation, the District Parent Coordinating Council, and more than 100 other funders and community-based-organizations – made possible by the collaboration and generosity of Western New York individuals, families, businesses and organizations.

Founded in 2025, the Say Yes Niagara Falls partnership – modeled on the collaborative strategy of Say Yes Buffalo – seeks to improve opportunities and programs available to students in Niagara Falls. Find more information at www.SayYesBuffalo.org and www.SayYesNiagaraFalls.org.

Reporter Madeline Dorobiala contributed to this report.