Woman improving city earns scholarship

A young woman working to improve Buffalo got a helping hand from the American Association of University Women Monday night.

Megan McNally of Williamsville has just won a $5,000 scholarship to help complete her senior year at Barnard College.

Megan won the scholarship in part because of her commitment to community service.

She bought a foreclosed Buffalo home at auction and has been working months to renovate it.

"Well it was a very run-down house and I felt if I make it beautiful, maybe I can inspire other people to make theirs beautiful too," said McNally.

The house is on Eaton Street near Buffalo ReUse, which dismantles vacant buildings.

Megan interned there and learned how tough it is for the working poor to maintain Buffalo's old homes.

She's been inviting the whole neighborhood to join her for free workshops with experts on everything from installing glass-block windows, to painting, to building a brick bread oven and organic gardening.

"It's really about getting the neighbors more than anything and teaching hands on, letting people touch the tools and build up their confidence to be able to do the stuff themselves," said Caesandra Seawall of Buffalo ReUse.

The American Association of University Women raised Megan's scholarship money and other educational grants through their giant, annual used book sale.

It's their way of offering a helping hand to those with a world of possibilities.

McNally said, "I just want to thank you all and thank the AAUW for such an incredible honor, it really means the world to me."