BUFFALO, N.Y. – As the four-year rollout of Buffalo Say Yes begins, the public is invited to learn more about this innovative educational support program for inner-city K-12 students.

Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey, president of the national Say Yes to Education, Inc., will be the featured speaker at the Buffalo City Forum and dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The Forum takes place in the WNED studios, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo.  Doors open at 6 p.m.; the presentation and live radio broadcast begins at 7 p.m. Attendees must be seated by 6:45 p.m.

Schmitt-Carey previously helped to lay the groundwork for a national school improvement program. She was recently appointed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Education Reform Commission.

Buffalo Say Yes, one of six local chapters of the national organization, involves the entire Buffalo Public School District, partner colleges and various public, corporate and non-profit organizations. The program promises eligible students tuition for higher education, plus mentoring and other services to help them succeed.

The Buffalo City Forum community speaker series is produced by WBFO-FM 88.7/WNED-AM 970and Leadership Buffalo in collaboration with JacksonParker Communications. The forum will be hosted by WBFO-FM 88.7/WNED-AM 970Station Manager & Director of News Jim Ranney. The hour-long Forum, which includes a question-and-answer session with the speaker, will be broadcast live on WBFO-FM 88.7/WNED-AM 970& wbfo.org.

Tickets can be purchased for $30 ($25 for members of WNED or Leadership Buffalo) through Leadership Buffalo at (716) 849-2626, ext. 14 or jcrosson@leadershipbuffalo.org. Advanced registration is encouraged. RSVPs are required for dinner by Friday, Sept. 21.

Buffalo City Forum is made possible by the support of presenting sponsor Independent Health and supporting sponsor M&T Bank.

Through WBFO-FM 88.7/WNED-AM 970, Classical 94.5/WNED-FM, WNED-TV and ThinkBright and Well/WORLD TV, member-supported WNED Buffalo/Toronto provides high quality programming and services to local, regional and national audiences that enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate Western New York and Southern Ontario communities. Additional information about WNED can be found at wned.org.