The Foundation

Chris-Tom-Carolina-Coastal-Hackler-Course-2015-rev

Our Story

CMLF Foundation Video 2020

Christopher Thomas Maloney was born April 1, 1993. His true passion was to the sport of Golf; encompassing the traditions, individual commitment, honesty and ethics, required perseverance, and social aspects. Chris harnessed these facets to help battle the disease of addiction which ultimately took his life on June 19, 2016.

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is a registered 501c3 charitable organization. Sustainability allows our organization to direct funds and support to a variety of programs that look to prevent addiction in unique and helpful ways. Finding avenues to strengthen character in our youth, providing for stronger and longer lasting support systems within our communities, and creating effective and truthful education, can make a future difference and help support those in current need.

Our Mission

The mission of the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is to raise awareness of the growing issues surrounding addiction, work with our community using programs geared toward addiction prevention, and help support in the treatment of this disease.

Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.

The “legacy” allows us to celebrate a beautiful life lost to this disease. The funding sustains creative addiction prevention programs, as well as support and therapy throughout our communities in professional settings. Subsequent golf tournaments and various other events will further support our growing mission.

Foundation
Board of Directors

Deborah Maloney Hicks

President, Acting Treasurer

Deb is a Magna CumLaude graduate of Niagara University, Bachelors of Business Administration. She is an accountant for Kelton Enterprises, Tim Horton’s Franchise owner. Deb is a past Member, Treasurer, and President for Lockport Junior Service League from 1998-2008, where she spearheaded many original, charitable projects, including several Buffalo Sabres Alumni Game(s) to benefit local charities.

“Respect and honesty is the cornerstone of our Foundation‘s pursuit and passion in prevention. Chris carried that respect and honesty for the game of golf with him every time he picked up his clubs. No matter who he played, how difficult the course, or what the score was. Take this beyond a game, and instill it in one’s growing character–so it’s not even a question of having to say ‘No,’ it’s simply not asked.”

Bruce Armitage

Vice President, Secretary

Bruce is a Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he leads a research group dedicated to developing biomedical technology for basic research, diagnostics and therapeutics, and teaches classes in organic chemistry and the chemistry of addiction. Bruce’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and has led to the successful training of 20 Ph.D. students. He is also the co-founder of an interdisciplinary research center, the Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology, and a biotechnology company, PNA Innovations.

Bruce is proud to have been Chris’ uncle and godfather, and he easily imagines Chris sitting in his classroom, asking thoughtful questions and spiritedly debating the key points of each lecture.

Mark Kuligowski

Marketing Director, Board Member

Mark is a marketing director with an aptitude for operations management, which he brings to all projects, companies and organizations he touches around Western New York. He utilizes his passion and expertise in creating, growing, and protecting brands along with understanding their business systems to help truly make an impression in their respective marketplaces. Mark is an active member in the Families of FANA organization in Western New York for adopting families and adopted families in Bogota Colombia. He is also a certified USA Hockey coach. He owned, operated and head coached North Tonawanda Hockey, as well as head coached in the Wheatfield and Amherst organizations. Yes, he did coach Chris Maloney, as well as his own daughter, Lauren Kuligowski.

“I am a lover of words. I’m an all in kind-of-individual. When I see someone’s spirit and relentless passion to make something positive happen, I want to be a part of it and help in anyway I can. Our youth is our most precious and valued asset to our communities. The world requires hard work, great awareness, and sincere compassion in order to be successful. Children need to have the strongest, uplifting, moral character they can muster, which coupled with great fun and education based programs and solid local mentors, is entirely possible. The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is positioned exactly this way, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Leibert Danielson

Board Member

Leibert is a retired Aerospace Engineering Executive with a 36 year career involved in aircraft systems. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management, respectively. His career began in 1983 with Cessna Aircraft Company and joined BFGoodrich in 1987. He held positions of increasing responsibility in engineering, program management, operations and quality, and led the engineering organizations for multiple aircraft system product lines. The company was acquired by United Technologies in 2012, and he retired in 2019 after 6 years as Vice President in Central Engineering of the Collins Aerospace business unit of UTC.

“Primarily my interest in the foundation derives from a close personal friendship with Chris and his family, and the deep sense of loss that I often feel. The alarming growth in the number of Americans lost each year to this epidemic, and the urgent need for private and public efforts to stem the tide, continues to weigh heavy on our communities across this nation. Awareness and impact is needed, and this foundation in his name, can be that positive impact.”

Michael Longo

Board Member (New 10-2025)

Michael is a retired, lifelong Buffalo resident. A widower since 2017, when he founded a memorial fund in his wife’s honor (Penny Longo Memorial Fund) that supports education activities at School 30 in the Buffalo School System, as well as Lafayette High School. The charity also supports Buffalo Hospice and other local charities. Mike has three children and six grandchildren, is a graduate of Buffalo State College and Erie County Community College and has 35+ years experience in district and regional management for major retail companies. He is also a business owner: Investor/Part Owner in dry cleaning business with his brother-in-law; NYS Realtor for 15 years; Owner-real estate investment group (Multiple properties in the Buffalo area); Part Owner of Diamond Hawk Golf Course in Cheektowaga NY, which he was intergral in the negotiated sale of the golf course as well as developing the business plan for the implementation of the food and beverage business. Currently, he splits his residency with a few months in Florida, but still enjoys three of the four Buffalo seasons!

“I’m very excited to join and be a contributing factor to this meaningful organization!”

Our Valued Partnerships

Horizon Health Services

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is proud to continue its partnership with Horizon Health Services. The unique history we share with Horizon Health Services goes to the very heart and soul of our past, our present, and most importantly the future of the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation. Strengthened in hindsight awareness; a deeper understanding of the compassion, structure, and vital attention this organization brings daily, we know that it is a beacon of hope, sharing the message of empowerment, and providing a simple voice of reason. It’s a place. It’s people. It’s a courageous support system which benefits all.

Our sponsorship of the Therapy Dog Program at Horizon’s Health Services has a dual connection for us here at CMLF. First of all, Christopher loved all animals and found comfort in spending time with them. More importantly, the 90 days he spent at Horizon Village were very challenging; however, the days in which Dakota, one of the therapy dogs who frequented the facility, visited were a little bit more calm and therapeutic for Chris. That’s why, when we were approached by Colleen Babcock, Horizon Health’s Parent and Family Support Coordinator, regarding setting up some type of sponsorship in Chris’ and the foundation’s name, this beautiful idea seemed the most meaningful.

“We have a lifelong, personal, and emotional connection with the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation, and we are so proud to be considered a partner in their continuing efforts to support unique, hopeful programs that align with their mission.” – Christina Pearl, Corporate Director of Communication

Horizon provides hope and healing for individuals and their families navigating substance use and mental health disorders. Horizon continues to grow and improve both services and organizational capabilities.

Horizon embraces their role as industry leaders and patient advocates knowing that the stakes have never been higher. The diseases of mental illness and addiction present urgent public health crises. They impact families in every neighborhood of our community. Education, prevention and treatment are our most effective weapons against these diseases. Horizon offers comprehensive, person-centered care to help individuals and their families achieve improved health – including medical, psychiatric, counseling and support services. We know that effective treatment makes recovery from behavioral health disorders possible. Most important, Horizon provides hope.

Horizon Health Service’s Mission Statement:
Together for Recovery. Changing Lives. Saving Lives.

The Horizon Village campus offers several different types of residential rehabilitation options to treat substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders at our serene and secure campus in Sanborn, NY. We are a facility dedicated to the total care of our patients by providing integrated treatment, including a focus on medical, psychological, spiritual, social, environmental, and family needs..

Horizon Village, a 50-bed residential treatment facility, opened its doors in 1994 providing one of the first residential treatment facilities focusing on substance use treatment in our community. Residential treatment provides an opportunity for holistic recovery by providing person centered treatment in an environment that empowers residents to make choices as they focus on improving all life-skill areas and working towards their recovery goals from substance use.

Our foundation also provided funding towards the building of Hilary’s House on the Horizon Village Campus. We believe family involvement is an essential component of supporting those on their recovery journeys. Hilary’s House is a retreat center for patients and their loved ones to connect, heal, and grow in a warm and welcoming environment. In addition to hosting family programming and visitations, the space is also used for clinical trainings for staff and opportunities for education and awareness. The Family Program at the Horizon Village Campus addresses the needs of family members and loved ones who have been affected by substance use. We view it as an essential part of treatment and recovery. Programming provides family members and friends with the skills and resources to support their loved ones. It explores family patterns and assists with the expectations of early recovery.

Therapy Dog Program At Horizon Health Services

“Dogs are non-judgmental and love us regardless of our background and mistakes.” – Cindy Goss, Counselor

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation supports the training and development of a therapy dog named Aurora’s Red Horizon, which is part of the on-going program at Horizon Health Services. The special connection Chris Maloney shared with “Dakota” (one of their therapy dogs pictured above with Aurora back in February of 2021) has lead to this beautiful legacy tribute from our foundation and our community of supporters. We look forward to the growth of Aurora with their therapeutic K-9 program, and the sponsorship of another therapy dog in the future.

For more on the therapy dog program at Horizon Health Services [click here].

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation Putting Green

“Nothing in life is a gimme.” – Mark Kuligowski, Marketing Director/Board Member [The CMLF]

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation Putting Green had its ribbon cutting ceremony September 30th 2025, and has already been one of the favorite areas of outdoor campus life of the residents of Horizon Village Campus in Sanborn New York. This lasting legacy and therapeutic area was made possible through the efforts of our 8th Annual Charity Golf Event at Lockport Town & Country Club in 2025. That’s right! It only took us one event to raise the necessary funds to pay for the putting green in full and have it finished just before the end of the summer!

As it states on the the plaquere; His unwavering dedication during his time at Horizon Village, and his passion for uplifting others, left a lasting impact on all who knew Chris, and this putting green stands as a tribute to Chris Maloney’s spirit, his generosity, and his belief in second chances. The putting green will allow residents to appreciate this part of the game for it’s values that it teaches: integrity, perseverance and camaraderies, as well as the practice of clearing your mind, so that you can line things up, check the distance, get a feel for your surroundings, and finally make the decision(s), which in the case of putting is the amount of force and the line to get the ball into the hole in one stroke, or at least give it that chance to get there.

There are truly no “gimmies” in life. A close putt, or unfinished work…needs completion. You need to take that swing to assure the ball finishes in the hole and you pick it up from inside the cup, feeling that satisfaction of completion (no matter how many putts it may have taken). This is the work and the dedication required in life and the pursuit of getting better at it and for it.

This beautiful addition would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors, donations, golfers, and volunteers, or the all-in dedication of Horizon Health Services as a partner to our foundation. We are quite positive that this extension of the Hilary’s House property will have a comforting effect on the residents and their families for years and seasons to come. We are proud to have been able to add to our continued support in this physical form, and we look forward to what other project opportunities in this nature might come to pass.

Hilary’s House (2023) on Horizon Village Campus

HILARY’S HOUSE 2023

On November 3rd, Horizon Health Services celebrated the official ribbon cutting and dedication of the brand new retreat center, Hilary’s House, on the Horizon Village Campus! This unique building will offer a safe space for patients to reconnect with loved ones and further their recovery journeys. The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation was able to commit yearly funding for the construction of this facility along with some other remarkable people and businesses from the community. The Hilary’s House project and story are near and dear to our story and many others. This is just another way to strengthen, not only our relationship with Horizon Health Services but our commitment to all potential positive impact driven projects that change and save lives in our community. The facility is remarkable and the benefits will truly be extraordinary!

Some pictures of the capital project renderings.

Hilary’s House Exterior Drawing

Hilary’s House Interior Drawing – Second Story View

The pictures from the ribbon cutting event this late fall 2023! The building was nearly at completion point! So excited for those that will be able to utilize this space for the upcoming 2023 Holiday Season!

Approaching Hilary’s House at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Hilary’s House Entrance at Horizon Village

Interior at Ceremony

All Involved “Thank Yous”

The First Tee of Western NY

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is proud to continue our partnership with The First Tee of Western New York. There was really no question that Chris Maloney’s passion and respect for the game of golf was eventually going to lead us to this dynamic organization. Their programs, including the Nine Core Values statement, are a stable backbone of encouragement and positivity that can truly assist in prevention.

Chris, himself, while in the middle of his battle both on the collegiate golf courses and off, always stated how much he wanted to be a mentor in this program. He not only understood the value of it to the game of golf, but he understood the more important benefit to the individual and the communities they lived in.

“The opportunity to partner with the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is very exciting for our organization,” said Tim Frank, former Executive Director of The First Tee of Western NY. “There is tremendous synergy with the mission of both organizations around building character, instilling life-enhancing values and promoting healthy choices with the youth of our community to ultimately make better decisions.”

“The First Tee of Western New York is a true fit for our foundation and our mission statement, and we are extremely proud to be a partner,” said Deb Maloney Hicks, Board President of the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation.

Our foundation’s partnership with The First Tee of Western New York continues to thrive, and there are now programs at Niagara County Golf Course, DeSales Catholic School, and Lockport CSD, as well as connected partnership golf programs with Kids Escaping Drugs and Horizon Health Services.

LINK TO OUR SPONSORED PROGRAMS
[Open Yearly Dates & Registration]

Niagara County Summer Sessions – The First Tee of Western NY
(Please realize that you must have/or create an account to register)

Who is The First Tee of Western NY?

The First Tee of Western NY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization in Western NY whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee of Western NY has grown to deliver programs throughout Western NY at participating schools and golf courses including Grover Cleveland, Harvest Hill, Elma Meadows, Brighton, Spruce Ridge, Glen Oak and Niagara Frontier CC.

The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.

How The First Tee of WNY Inspires

2024 Kids First Golf Classic Website
August 12th 2024
Craig Burn Golf Club

First Tee Program Arrives At Horizon Health Services 2021

With the help and financial support of the Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation, the successful, combined character, educational and golf program of the First Tee of Western NY is part of the Horizon Services campus! We are not only excited about this unique sports-core value building session for our residents but to have forged an outstanding partnership with two fabulous organizations that truly understand the importance of internal value and self-worth in understanding and succeeding in life.

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation has a special connection to us at Horizon Services, as Chris Maloney was a resident of Horizon Services and knew the struggle, compassion, and importance of everything that went into recovery from his family to each person and staff member at Horizon Services.
It is the continued compassion and resolve of the organization in his name that continues to work in the Western NY community to raise awareness of opioid addiction, seek out positive influence programs that can assist in prevention, as well as bring support to those organizations that continue to assist in recovery.

First Tee of Western NY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people in Western NY by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Tim Frank, Executive Director, is very anxious to put their program to work in Horizon Services age demographic to add to the promoting of values and health choices. “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with 2 great organizations in our community to bring our unique golf experience to introduce life skills which are inherent in the game. We will utilize these life skills to teach a range of valuable life and leadership lessons with a goal to make a positive long-term impact on the participants.”

Kristen Bromley will be leading the program for the First Tee of Western NY. Kristen brings an extensive background working various junior and adult programs. She is a PGA Associate, and the Assistant Executive Director at First Tee – Western New York.

These two organizations have already put together a successful, fully funded programs at the Lockport City Schools, DeSales Catholic School, and a summer program for Niagara County, which is held at the Niagara County Municiple Course on Davison Road. The Nine Core Values listed below are the very backbone of First Tee of Western New York’s program, the synergy of their connection to The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation, and a definitive match to those qualities we instill and our residents need to have in their heart and mind to be successful in spirit and in life.

Honesty
Integrity
Sportsmanship
Respect
Confidence
Responsibility
Perseverance
Courtesy
Judgement

Horizon Services residents that participate will clearly receive benefits with this program in the areas mentioned above. We encourage our residents to apply to the program as the available space is limited, unfortunately. However, we are sure that with the success of the program, we can look to additional programs in the coming years to fulfill the demand.

More information and links will be provided in the coming months.

Kids Escaping Drugs

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is proud to continue its partnership with Kids Escaping Drugs. Kids Escaping Drugs’ preventative programs through multifaceted community education, and their robust facility treatment options make them an extremely important partner to our continuing mission to providing valuable resources, outlets and more. Kids Escaping Drugs is so important to our communities!

OUR CHILDREN ARE IN CRISIS
Kids Escaping Drugs is dedicated to ending the drug epidemic in Western New York by empowering families to live a life free from the disease of addiction through community outreach, education, and as the only residential treatment facility for adolescents ages 12-23.

Kids Escaping Drugs (KED) was founded in 1987 as a community action campaign committed to addressing the lack of suitable treatment options for adolescents struggling with chemical dependency. During this time, children seeking help were limited to adult facilities for care. Due to lack of adequate options, many teens received little to no treatment. Through substantial community support, the Campaign was able to begin building the Renaissance Campus, a treatment facility dedicated to providing specialized care for adolescents ages 12-20, in 1990. By 2002, the Campus had grown to five buildings including three residential treatment houses. The latest milestone came in 2018, with the expansion our services to include stabilization and reintegration making us the only provider in the state of NY to offer these services to the under 18 populations. These two new levels of care now allow us to treat young adults up to the age of 23. To accommodate these additional levels a new state of the art residence was constructed for females and an existing building was repurposed for males. Currently, the Renaissance Campus is a 77 bed treatment facility serving adolescents and their families across WNY.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Please check out all the areas of programs and educational outreach below:

TREATMENT

Early Intervention
Stabilization
Rehabilitation
Re-Integration

First Tee Program At Kids Escaping Drugs

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation is now supporting, through The First Tee of Western New York, another great program of golf for the Renaissance Residents and Stepping Stones at Kids Escaping Drugs. The support and connection with Dana McPhaden, Marketing & Events Coordinator, has been so rewarding! The very core values that the residence are working on aligns and applies with those of the First Tee’s Nine Core Values in a tangible way on the course as well in life.

We are so pleased to be able to give the residents at Renaissance House and Stepping Stones the opportunity to take the core values they are working with in their programs and apply them in a more tangible way through the game of golf. This late summer/early fall we are looking to run two 4 week programs for 8-12 participants per class at Elma Meadows Golf Course and similar indoor sessions at the Paddock Dome.

The life skills components taught by The First Tee nicely aligns with those in the KED program, so we know this will be a positive impact!

More information will be made available as the dates and times are finalized, along with group transportation to the site, which will also be determined very soon.

The Foundation

Our Story

Our Mission

Foundation
Board of Directors

Deborah Maloney Hicks

Bruce Armitage

Mark Kuligowski

Leibert Danielson

Michael Longo

Our Valued Partnerships

Horizon Health Services

Therapy Dog Program At Horizon Health Services

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation Putting Green

Hilary’s House (2023) on Horizon Village Campus

The First Tee of Western NY

LINK TO OUR SPONSORED PROGRAMS
[Open Yearly Dates & Registration]

Who is The First Tee of Western NY?

2024 Kids First Golf Classic Website
August 12th 2024
Craig Burn Golf Club

First Tee Program Arrives At Horizon Health Services 2021

Kids Escaping Drugs

First Tee Program At Kids Escaping Drugs

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation

Follow us on Facebook

Navigation Menu

The Foundation

Our Story

Our Mission

FoundationBoard of Directors

Deborah Maloney Hicks

Bruce Armitage

Mark Kuligowski

Leibert Danielson

Michael Longo

Our Valued Partnerships

Horizon Health Services

Therapy Dog Program At Horizon Health Services

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation Putting Green

Hilary’s House (2023) on Horizon Village Campus

The First Tee of Western NY

LINK TO OUR SPONSORED PROGRAMS [Open Yearly Dates & Registration]

Who is The First Tee of Western NY?

2024 Kids First Golf Classic Website August 12th 2024 Craig Burn Golf Club

First Tee Program Arrives At Horizon Health Services 2021

Kids Escaping Drugs

First Tee Program At Kids Escaping Drugs

The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation

Follow us on Facebook

Navigation Menu

Foundation
Board of Directors

LINK TO OUR SPONSORED PROGRAMS
[Open Yearly Dates & Registration]

2024 Kids First Golf Classic Website
August 12th 2024
Craig Burn Golf Club