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PrintSeptember 2012: Charity Events
It’s time for the kids to go back to school (hallelujah!), so celebrate everything fall with Oktoberfest, art, wine, good food, and even a few bouncy houses thrown in.
Rockin’ by the Runway—Family Fun Day
Beneficiary: Mercy Flight WNY
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, September 8, at Flying Tigers (Buffalo Airport), 100 Amherst Villa Rd., Buffalo. Admission is free, but there will be opportunities to donate. Call Jeff Mendola at 716-626-4100, ext. 314, or visit mercyflight.org.
There will be much for the kiddoes to do on a day that includes a performance by Glenn Colton, a favorite local children’s entertainer. Bounce houses will be bouncin’, the Buffalo food trucks will be there, you can watch planes take off and land, and the kids will have an opportunity to climb into one of the helicopters and have their picture taken. A 50/50 raffle and a portion of all sales from the day will raise funds, but in addition, Mercy Flight will offer the opportunity to sponsor a mission. For a donation of $842, you will receive all of the information from the mission once it’s done, including where it took place and who was saved.
Women of Distinction
Beneficiary: Girls Scouts of WNY
5:30 to 9 p.m., Thursday, September 20, at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Rd., Depew. Tickets: $100 per person; call Amy Johnson at 716-935-6030, or visit gswny.org.
The difference you’ll find in this award program is that the girls are in charge. High school-aged Girl Scouts go through a training program and numerous rehearsals, and are paired with one of the honorees to prepare the presentations and act as emcees, award presenters, and entertainers. Guests will benefit from all of that while enjoying a cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30, followed by a gourmet sit-down dinner while awards will be presented in the fields of business, entrepreneurism, education, health care, sports, and more.
Oktoberfest
Beneficiary: Kevin Guest House
5 to 10 p.m., Friday, September 21, at the Hatch, Erie Basin Marina, 329 Erie St., Buffalo. Tickets: $35 presale, $40 at the door; call Pamela Rossi Chrzanowski at 716-882-1818, or visit kevinguesthouse.org.
Oom pah pah! The Frankfurters will perform at the Seventh Annual Oktoberfest, keeping everybody dancing in celebration of fall and the harvest with delicious beer from Flying Bison, accompanied by German food favorites. All proceeds will benefit the Kevin Guest House, a home-away-from-home for families of patients receiving treatment in the Buffalo area.
For more information on this Spree-sponsored event, see p. 50.
Plate Expectations
Beneficiary: Meals on Wheels Foundation of WNY
6 to 9 pm, Thursday, September 27, at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Rd., Depew. Tickets: $95 each; call Rachel Leidenfrost at 716-822-2002, ext. 33, or visit mealsonwheelswny.org.
Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals to folks who can’t get out, and folks throughout WNY rely on it. So on September 27, head to Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, where you can help this wonderful program and at the same time help yourself to some of Salvatore’s fabled fare. There will be elaborate food stations available, while guests enjoy music, a silent auction, a “super” silent auction for high-ticket items, and a balloon raffle that allows guests to pay $20 to pop a balloon and receive a prize that is worth at least that—and possibly much more. Community awards will be given to some very special sponsors and volunteers, and the evening will celebrate the generosity of all who help to support the program.
Aspiring Artists Art & Wine Celebration
Beneficiary: Aspire of WNY
5 to 9 p.m., Friday, September 7, at 2356 N. Forest Rd., Getzville. Tickets: $25 presale, $30 at the door; call Megan Babirad at 716-505-5514, or visit aspirewny.org.
iExpress, Aspire’s innovative art program for people with a full range of disabilities, results in a treasure trove of paintings, sculptures, and photographs, which are placed on sale during their signature Wine Celebration event. Guests will browse and purchase selections from the more than 200 participants in Aspire’s program, while enjoying food stations supplied by local restaurants, wine and local microbrew tastings, and live music. All proceeds from the event support iExpress.
Terri Parsell Hilmey is a contributing editor to Spree’s Medical Resource Guide.
