Congresswoman Claudia Tenney announces fundraising of $695,955  for the first Quarter across all entities, including over 14,500 donors who gave an average of $28.

“I’m grateful that my work to secure our southern border, investigate the Biden Crime family, and support for our Second Amendment rights has attracted so much support across NY-24, New York State, and throughout our country. I am committed to the work that is ahead of us, ensuring we make Joe Biden a one-term President and return to America First policies.”

This large haul of donations comes on the heels of an exciting month for Team Tenney. Filing in Albany for both the Conservative and Republican lines with overwhelming numbers of signatures, being endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and the 45th President Donald Trump. Tenney has huge momentum as she looks at the year ahead.

“As I go out into the community, I constantly hear, ‘When are we going to shut the border? When are we going to get the economy back on track? When are we going to stop this woke nonsense that plagues the country?’ I am the only candidate in this race that has a conservative record of results. When we elect President Trump in November, and he returns to the White House, I’m ready to hit the ground running and help him pass his legislative agenda so we can Make America Great Again.”

The Wings Over Batavia Air Show is coming to town on September 2 and 3 and bringing national acts and world champion aerobatic performers in a spectacular night-time show featuring a high energy-choreographed fireworks & flight display. It will be a show not to miss.

If your organization, group, or team is looking for a great fundraising opportunity, then this is it. The Wings Over Batavia Air Show is looking for groups to work the food courts and raise funds through revenue sharing. If you are interested in learning more, request information here - https://forms.gle/TRhMYknQuuY5NuEi6.

The Air Show is also looking for groups to work in the parking lots, and these groups will also be eligible to raise funds through revenue sharing. Sign up for parking online at https://wingsoverbatavia.com/volunteer/. If you would like to see more about the airshow, check out their website at https://wingsoverbatavia.com/ or like them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Wingsoverbatavia. 

Submitted photo and press release:

Le Roy resident Karen Samis (far left in photo) participated in the American Lung Association's first-ever Virtual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo.

Samis completed more than 48 hours of physical activity all over New York State and raised nearly $1,000 for the Lung Association's mission.

That mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through advocacy, education and research of lung diseases, including COVID-19.   

The 10th annual in-person event was originally scheduled for late March. It regularly attracts hundreds of people to walk or run up the 24 flights of stairs, or 470 steps, to the top of Main Place Tower in Buffalo.

This year, COVID-19 required the event to be moved online, and participants from all over Western New York joined in to stay active by choosing a challenge such as climbing, running, walking or cycling from home or near their own neighborhoods.

In total, the event raised more than $165,000.

To support Samis and contribute to her effort click here.

Pictured in Lake Placid, from left are: Karen Samis, Diane Yarosis (her cousin and lung cancer survivor), Pete Yarosis (her nephew), and Steve Samis (her husband).

Northgate Pastor John Keller gets some grooming.

Submitted photos and press release:

Beginning in October of 2019, Northgate Pastor John Keller began a process many of our readers can relate to. He grew a beard. After an eight-month progression and the absence of winter temperatures, Pastor Keller made the decision to potentially lose a part of him which he had grown fondly of.

As a member of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army in Batavia, Keller put a wager on the community and Northgate congregants through Facebook to raise money in exchange for a fresh shave.  

The original post asked for the community to donate $500 to The Salvation Army of Batavia. Unbeknownst to him, the community rallied around his fundraising efforts and raised that amount in only an hour and a half.

Quick on his feet, Keller amended the goal to $1,000, saying that if he reached the new amount, he would let his three daughters shave his beard. Once again, the congregants and community spoke. Three hours after the original post, the total had surpassed $1,000.

Over the course of the five-day fundraiser, 53 people donated for a combined total of $2,215.  

This financial fundraiser will remain local and will help to fight food scarcity in Genesee County.

Keller said “Truthfully, a beard that long with a mask and the higher temperatures just wasn’t comfortable. So, I was probably going to shave it anyway, but I thought we could have a little fun with it and raise some money for a great cause. I had no idea that people would respond in such an awesome way! Our local Salvation Army is so well run and does such an incredible job loving and serving our community. I’m so glad to have been able to have a part in helping them do that great work!” 

Northgate church continues to partner with The Salvation Army of Batavia, as they have for years. During the COVID-19 closures, they have hosted local food collections each Monday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at their North Campus (8160 Bank Street Road).

They have also teamed up with The Salvation Army and Foodlink to conduct drive-thru food distributions every other Wednesday. This past Wednesday, they were able to distribute food to 413 vehicles that passed through their parking lot.

If you are interested in assisting the local community, food deliveries can be delivered during the hours listed above, or directly to The Salvation Army during their hours of operation.

Below, Pastor Keller before and after.

Bottom, photo from this Wednesday's food giveaway at Northgate church featuring featuring fresh meat, produce and dairy products.

Part of the Y’s charitable mission is the philosophy that no one with an inability to pay for membership or programs is ever turned away. To that end, funds are raised annually through the Strong Communities Campaign to help subsidize scholarships for youths, teens, adults, families and seniors in Genesee County.

This year’s campaign runs from Feb. 1^st  – March 31^st and the goal is to raise $49,000.

The YMCA wants to positively impact at least 800 people’s lives locally.

Reaching the 2020 goal will insure that children and families, regardless of their socioeconomic status, will have the chance to benefit from the important lessons of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through YMCA programs and services.

Your help is needed! Please consider a gift to support the YMCA in achieving this goal and making our community stronger for all.

To make a gift, contact Jeff Townsend, executive director at (585) 344-1664 or online at www.glowymca.orgunder the “giving” tab.

In response to Assembly Bill 1413, which outlaws firearms as prizes in games of chance, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has vocally opposed this legislation as another example of Downstate government overreach.

Firearm raffles are an important source of funding for community activities and many local organizations, specifically fire departments, use the funds generated by these raffles to support the department and purchase equipment used to protect the community.

The legislation is authored by Jo Anne Simon, a Democrat from Brooklyn and sponsored by over a dozen New York City Democrats.  

“The widening disconnect between Downstate politicians and Upstate matters is alarming,” Hawley said. “It is the not the place of legislators in New York City to determine laws that significantly affect upstate affairs.

"Law-abiding gun owners have been subjected to increased regulations and harmful laws that blatantly violate their Second Amendment rights, and banning firearms as raffle prizes is yet another example.”

The standards of gun ownership do not change whether it’s purchased from a licensed dealer or won in a raffle. In order to claim possession, one must still pass the background checks and have the necessary permits. 

“Gun ownership is a proud and storied tradition in Western New York,” Hawley said. “It is not the business of city legislators to infringe on your constitutional rights and ultimately hurt our local charitable organizations.”

A breakfast held at the Dibble Family Center in Batavia this morning set the stage for the United Way of Genesee County’s Campaign 2020 Kick-off.

This year’s campaign will be under the direction of co-chairs Susie Ott and Jane Scott. Together they chair the United Way’s Day of Caring Committee, are members of the Allocations Committee and have dedicated themselves to the United Way mission for many years.

“Campaign 2020: clear vision for a brighter future” is our tagline this year, says Executive Director Tammy Hathaway. “We want to know the personality of our donor and offer them nothing less from our stewardship of their funds than what they give to their customers and the community.”

The United Way of Genesee County (UWGC) is focused on funding the Community Impact areas of health, education and economic mobility. Within these categories, 21 nonprofits are provided funding for 27 different programs in our county.

Campaign funding grants an insurance toward keeping these essential programs in existence. A listing of agencies and services funded can be found on the UWGC website.

Co-chairs, Ott & Scott (or as UWGC calls them: "Ott & Scott’s Big Adventure") announced this year’s United Way of Genesee County’s campaign goal for 2020 is $350,000.

As the morning began, Paul Ohlson of Care-A-Van Ministries blessed the venture saying "it takes a village." The United Way of Genesee County looks forward to partnering with current and new donors to "be this village" and to another year of being committed to mobilizing resources for community impact.

For questions, or inquiries of how to get involved, please contact the UWGC office at 585-343-8141.

Inset photo of United Way of Genesee County Executive Director Tammy Hathaway, courtesy of Susie Ott.