Assembly Resolution No. 780

BY: M. of A. Fahy

HONORING William Wolff upon the occasion of his
retirement after many years of distinguished service
as Executive Director, LaSalle School, Albany, New
York, and Chairman of the 853 Schools Coalition in
New York State

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed
residents of this noble Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
William Wolff upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of
distinguished service as Executive Director, LaSalle School, Albany, New
York, and Chairman of the 853 Schools Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Rarely has an individual served their institution as well
as William Wolff has served LaSalle School and the Coalition of 853
Schools; he was also active in several leadership roles on both a
national level and his own communities of Albany and Chatham, New York;
and

WHEREAS, William Wolff has transformed the building footprint and
modernized structures which serve the boys and staff at the School by
working with architects, building contractors and financing agencies;
has led the effort to build the LaSalle School Foundation assets to over
$4 million thus securing the financial future of the School; has
successfully led the Coalition of 853 Schools through the challenging
times of state regulated reimbursement and oversight; and has identified
strategic partners to completely transform the manner in which clinical
services are delivered to at risk youth by scientifically informed
adverse childhood experience learning strategies; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, William Wolff was hired as a science teacher at
LaSalle School, a private, not-for-profit treatment center which
provides specialized therapeutic and educational services to troubled
children and their families in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, The following year, he was appointed as the Junior High
School Principal and one year later as the Curriculum Director and
Co-Chair of the Committee on Special Education at the School; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, after completing his Master's degree in
Organization Management, William Wolff began managing a major rebuilding
project at the School, working with legislative authority to secure
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) financing; the CEO
of the School, Brother Brice Wilder, named William Wolff the Director of
Operations and Quality Control; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, William Wolff was selected by the Board of
Trustees to serve as the Interim Executive Director and a year later,
appointed as Executive Director, a position he would continue to hold
until his official retirement in 2018; and


WHEREAS, The DASNY project design and $9.3M in financing was
approved in 1998; simultaneously, he led a campaign for Capital and
Endowment which raised $2.5M; upon its completion in 2000, the
remarkable renovations constituted a sea change in the campus
environment providing necessary safety and security improvements to
classrooms, administrative and dormitory spaces; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, LaSalle School recognized its 150th anniversary.
Under William Wolff's leadership this included many events and
celebrations, reopening of the renovated buildings and a successful
fundraising effort exceeding $300,000; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, William Wolff was elected as President of the 853
Schools Coalition, a post he would continue in until 2018; under his
leadership, these schools, serving the neediest of children, would
achieve more secure state funding, would increase the professionalism of
their staffs and would successfully meet the challenges of state
oversight and transformation of the funding for medical services and the
New York State Justice Center; in 2005, he was elected as a Director of
the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies, a position he would
also hold until 2018; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, William Wolff recognized the need to invest in
staff development and training in the developing science and study of
adverse childhood traumatic experiences and brain science; this
leadership has included Annual Capital District ACES Symposium, each
year's attendance breaking previous records, and providing great benefit
to policy makers, practitioners and others who serve troubled youth; and

WHEREAS, Early on, his ability to create partnerships resulted in an
alliance with the nationally renowned State University of Albany School
of Social Work which has facilitated this scientific study; in 2014,
William Wolff again led another successful capital campaign; and

WHEREAS, When the "Change in Mind: Applying Neurosciences to
Revitalize Communities" initiative was created, William Wolff guided
LaSalle School to be named as one of 10 sites across the United States
chosen by an independent selection committee through a competitive
process; then in 2015, he was named the co-Principal of the Mobilizing
Action for Resilient Communities representing a large cohort of Capital
District Human Services Agencies in this national initiative; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, he guided $4M in improvements to dormitories,
dining rooms and the dedication of the renovated George Hanner Center
for Excellence and Lasallian Mission; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his retirement the LaSalle Foundation has
accrued assets of over $4M to support the mission of LaSalle School, not
possible without his leadership, support and vision; and

WHEREAS, LaSalle School now holds licenses to treat the most
challenging children including at the Counseling Center at LaSalle
serving both boys and girls; the LaSalle JRFC in partnership with two
other local agencies, services boys and girls suffering from mental
health and additional issues, licenses that few other agencies have
attained; this ability to take risks for the healthy transformation of
boys under his care has been a hallmark of his leadership; and


WHEREAS, William Wolff has sustained high quality relationships with
the LaSalle School high performing Board of Trustees; has served in
various capacities to assist the De LaSalle Christian Brothers with the
endowing management of their schools and programs, sustaining the
commitment of LaSalle School to the values and mission of the Brothers;
guided four successful re-accreditations by the Council on
Accreditation; named the 2007 Distinguished Lasallian Educator, both for
the New York District and for the National Award; named an Affiliate
Brother of the Christian AFSC in 2014; became a published author in
national publications focused on child welfare; and served as a past
Director and Secretary of the Albany, N.Y. Police Athletic League and
past officer of the Chatham, New York Board of Education and its
foundation; and

WHEREAS, William Wolff rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable
service to LaSalle School and the 853 Schools Coalition, earning the
admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, In his capacity as both Executive Director and Chairman,
William Wolff served with loyalty, honor and distinction, and was
governed by a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of
human problems in his official acts; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor William Wolff upon the occasion of his retirement after many years
of distinguished service as Executive Director, LaSalle School, Albany,
New York, and Chairman of the 853 Schools Coalition, and to wish him
well in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to William Wolff.