LEWAC Associates of Western New York, Inc.
About Us                 Catherine Lewis-Smith Bio

"Find a need and fill it" is a sentiment that Catherine J. Lewis-Smith has taken not just literally, but to heart. Lewis-Smith and LEWAC Associates (Lasting Education for Women, Adults and Children) are living examples of Ruth Stafford Peale's famous quote.

LEWAC is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1991 to fill a vital need in Western New York for health education programs aimed specifically at the diverse cultures in the area, addressing such health concerns as diabetes, hypertension and stroke, nutrition, weight management, asthma, prostate disease and breast cancer. LEWAC primarily serves neighborhoods in Buffalo's East and West Sides, including the Masten, Ellicott, Niagara and University Districts.

Founder Catherine Lewis-Smith is leading a personal mission. LEWAC is much more than a means of providing programs to improve the quality of medical care in underserved areas of Western New York. It is a labor of love Lewis-Smith has assumed to help prevent local families from experiencing the same heartbreak she has felt. Several members of Lewis-Smith's family lost battles with diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure. By offering easily accessible health education and outreach programs to the community, LEWAC provides a lifeline to local families, leading to improved health and awareness of these serious diseases, which often affect minorities more than others in the United States.

Reaching the African American and Latino communities (among others) is not a simple process. LEWAC provides its services in non-traditional places such as churches, community centers, beauty salons and barbershops, housing developments and schools. Community-friendly formats ensure those attending not only receive vital information, but - just as important - they understand how to implement changes in their lifestyle.

LEWAC teams its employees, including a physician, nurse, dietitian, social workers and educators with consultants and volunteers to provide comprehensive services to the community. So far, an impressive 50,000 individuals have taken advantage of LEWAC's services, through on-site education classes, community seminars, and airings on WNED-TV's "Be Healthy For Life" program.