Jennifer Muniga Appointed to Farley's Friends Board
Farley's Friends is pleased to announce that Jennifer Muniga as newest member of its growing Board of Directors. Ms. Muniga is the Executive Director of Cameron Community Ministries in Northwest Rochester’s Lyell-Otis neighborhood. She began her work at Cameron as the Youth Programs Director in 2011 and was named Executive Director in 2013.
Farley's Friends is pleased to announce that Jennifer Muniga as newest member of its growing Board of Directors. Ms. Muniga is the Executive Director of Cameron Community Ministries in Northwest Rochester’s Lyell-Otis neighborhood. She began her work at Cameron as the Youth Programs Director in 2011 and was named Executive Director in 2013.
Ms. Muniga grew up East of Rochester in Wolcott, NY and has lived here for 12 years. She graduated from Keuka College with a Degree in Developmental Child Psychology and a Minor in Spanish. She also holds a certificate from St. John Fisher’s Non-Profit Management Program. Prior to her work at Cameron, Ms. Muniga has always worked with children through teaching preschool, working with runaway and homeless youth in the City of Rochester and with Child Protective Services at Bivona Child Advocacy Center. Helping underprivileged children and families in the City of Rochester is her passion.
Ms. Muniga feels strongly about helping Rochester to not only rebuild, but to thrive. Farley’s Friends is a great opportunity for her to be involved in gaining support for the non-profits doing the incredible work in the community that she loves.
Outside of her work at Cameron, Ms. Muniga is a member of the Community Advisory Board at WXXI and is a member of the Planning Committee of the Council of Agency Executives. Ms. Muniga lives in Brighton and enjoys spending time with her husband Joe and their two children Annaleese and Landen.
James Farley - Founder of NYS 501(c)3 Charity, Farley's Friends, Inc
Recently, in late 2015, Farley formed a 501(c)3 charity called Farley’s Friends who’s mission believes in community betterment and striving to increase the reach and resources of select nonprofit organizations, charitable groups and community programs in Upstate NY through leadership, networking and strategic fundraising events. This was the natural evolution of his successful eight year run of successful philanthropic events, which accounted for tens of thousands of dollars in additional monies for local organizations such as Gilda’s Club, Salvation Army, and Rochester Contemporary Art Center, to name a few.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisor and Community Organizer, James Farley, is a lifelong resident of the Rochester, New York area.
Growing up on the border of Wayne and Monroe Counties, Farley attended Charles W. Finney School in Penfield, NY prior to traveling and studying abroad.
Farley has always had a passion for entrepreneurship, From launching a private record label right out of high school, to helping build one of the Rochester Top 100 companies from the ground up. His focus, attention to detail and desire to help families and businesses realize their dreams of financial independence, led him to pursue starting his own financial planning practice as a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, where he has received numerous recognition and accreditation.
“Throughout my life I have been blown away by how many people that share a similar vision of making an impact in the community. They love this city. They want to be a part of positive change. But often, in a city with so many charitable organizations, it can be difficult to sift through them all to find a place someone feels is the best fit. That’s where Farley’s Friends comes in.”
Throughout his successful professional life, Farley has not always maintained a strong commitment to local community organizations that set the standard for arts and culture, but also charities and agencies that help serve the Rochester NY area. He has always made it a point to lead by example when it comes to mentoring support and philanthropic endeavors. Most recently in 2014, he received Causewave Community partners’ prestigious Spark Award, in addition to being named to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s “Rochester’s Finest” list. In addition serving on boards such as Rehema Home Orphanage, Fairport Baptist Home and the Rochester Advertising Federation, he also supports many visual and performing arts organizations in the Upstate NY region.
Recently, in late 2015, Farley formed a 501(c)3 charity called Farley’s Friends who’s mission believes in community betterment and striving to increase the reach and resources of select nonprofit organizations, charitable groups and community programs in Upstate NY through leadership, networking and strategic fundraising events. This was the natural evolution of his successful eight year run of successful philanthropic events, which accounted for tens of thousands of dollars in additional monies for local organizations such as Gilda’s Club, Salvation Army, and Rochester Contemporary Art Center, to name a few.
Alyssa Belasco Appointed to Board of Directors of Newly Established Upstate NY Charity
As an experienced marketing, communications and nonprofit fundraising professional, Alyssa Belasco serves as the Director of Development and Programs for the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley. She is a native Rochesterian with a love for her city and a passion for rebuilding Rochester through promoting and supporting nonprofit organizations, local businesses, arts and entertainment.
As an experienced marketing, communications and nonprofit fundraising professional, Alyssa Belasco serves as the Director of Development and Programs for the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley.
Ms. Belasco is a native Rochesterian with a love for her city and a passion for rebuilding Rochester through promoting and supporting nonprofit organizations, local businesses, arts and entertainment. Ms. Belasco graduated Cum Laude from SUNY Brockport with a degree in Communications and Media Arts. She resides in the North Winton Village neighborhood of the City of Rochester with her husband Bill, and their two dogs, Biggins and Ollie.
In addition to her role at the Women’s Foundation, Ms. Belasco is a Freelance Writer, most notably for her column "The (Doing) Good Life" which is featured monthly in Rochester Magazine. She is also the Co-Founder of Flower City Philanthropy, where she hopes to start a charitable revolution by closing the gap between intention and action and inspiring people in the Rochester area to think and act charitably every day. Ms. Belasco has been referred to as a serial volunteer, enjoying giving back whenever possible.
In January 2016, Ms. Belasco was recognized as an ATHENA Young Professional finalist by the Women’s Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Affiliate, which honors emerging women leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, and in November 2016 she was honored as one of Rochester's Forty Under 40. In addition to Farley's Friends, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Women‘s Council and co-chairs their Communications Committee.
Farley's Friends Appoints Steven C. Argento to Board of Directors
Argento has an extensive 20 year experience as a community leader and business owner, serving on various non profit boards, community fundraising committees and business councils in the past two decades. His philanthropic fundraising activities have earned Argento numerous awards throughout his professional career. Organizations benefiting from his leadership and philanthropy range from the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, ArtWALK and the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester to Camp Good Days, Easter Seals and the Veterans Outreach Center.
Newly formed 501(c)3 Organization, Farley's Friends, has announced the appointment of Rochester, NY art dealer and philanthropist, Steven C. Argento, to their Board of Directors.
Steven C. Argento, Owner SC Fine Art and Ramón Santiago Studio
Photo credit - GoodKnews Photography
Business leader, philanthropist, gallery owner and publisher of fine art, Steven Argento grew up in Rochester NY, attending Rochester Institute of Technology. The father of two girls, Grace and Julia, the City of Rochester resident is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served overseas in Europe, South Korea and in support of Operation Just Cause (U.S. Invasion of Panama) as a Combat Military Police Officer.
Argento has an extensive 20 year experience as a community leader and business owner, serving on various non profit boards, community fundraising committees and business councils over the past two decades.
As agent for internationally recognized artist Ramón Santiago, and later owner of the Ramón Santiago Studio™ in Rochester NY, Argento and his businesses represent the works of Santiago, managing a client base of thousands of collectors. The Studio specializes in publishing, selling and appraising fine art originals and prints from the Estate of Ramón Santiago℠ catalog.
““I am very honored to have the opportunity to work with the other founding Board Directors of Farley’s Friends™, as we share the same vision and sense of pride in our community. We are all looking forward to embarking on this exciting path to help Farley’s Friends continue making a positive impact within the community, through our mission goals.””
In addition to his role in the Ramón Santiago Studio, Argento founded S.C. Fine Art, a fine art publishing and art consulting company specializing in artist development, representation and sales. He has successfully promoted over 30 internationally recognized artists, developing and implementing fine art exhibitions and collector driven marketing, sales and merchandising ventures.
His philanthropic fundraising activities have earned Argento numerous awards throughout his professional career. Through the creation of fine art driven strategic partnerships and capital fundraising projects, his oversight and involvement has raised over $1MM for the Rochester non-profit community. Organizations benefiting from his leadership and philanthropy range from the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, ArtWALK and the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester to Camp Good Days, Easter Seals and the Veterans Outreach Center.