WIVB-TV has taken an active role in community events for decades and the season of fall seems to be a particularly active time for local charities and non-profit organizations to raise money and present awards. I have been privileged to have a role in many of these events on behalf of the station. I try to take pictures when I can to help document and remember these community events.

Harvest Festival

Unfortunately, I forgot to pull out my camera during the 9th Annual Harvest Festival on October 2, 2009, at the Statler Towers, co-sponsored by WIVB-TV. It was a huge crowd – 720 guests – that turned out for the gourmet meal and wine-tasting. The successful benefit raised an impressive $285,000 to benefit the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.

M.S. Dinner of Champions

The Dinner of Champions to benefit the Upstate Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is always a highlight for me. This year the 30th Annual DOC brought hundreds of supporters to the Hyatt Regency on October 13, 2009. I believe I have emceed this event for close to 25 years and I have learned how many, many people we have in this area who are living with Multiple Sclerosis. They need and appreciate the services of the M.S. Society.

Lee Evans of the Buffalo Bills and his wife, Miranda, attended the Dinner of Champions to help promote the Team Up 4 MS campaign. Funds support research and patient programs of the M.S. Society.

Use this link to pledge a donation for every touchdown or sack the Bills score this season.

Roswell Park Alliance All Star Night

For nineteen years, the Roswell Park Alliance has presented a gala fundraiser to benefit Buffalo’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute. WIVB-TV has been a partner through the years as this event has evolved into what is now All Star Night, a white-tie benefit set on the stage of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Each year, Roswell honors a faculty member, a volunteer, and a courageous cancer survivor. On October 24, 2009, those honorees were cancer prevention researcher Dr. James Marshall, inspirational 80 year old volunteer William McLaughlin, and NFL Hall of Famer and prostate cancer survivor Michael Haynes.

NFL Hall of Fame member, Mike Haynes, the 2009 Gilda Radner Courage Award Honoree

Dr. Donald L. Trump, President and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Jacquie Walker was emcee for All Star Night.

Mary Pinto and Barb Heller were co-chairs of All Star Night. Suzy Sears was chair.

Amherst Chamber of Commerce

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce changed its Business of the Year dinner a bit this year. On October 26, 2009, at the Buffalo Niagara Marriott, the Chamber honored the University at Buffalo as its business of the year and presented eight Alpha Awards to businesses and individuals with specific ties to UB. It demonstrates how far and deep UB’s roots stretch in Western New York. It’s not only a major employer, but it serves as a catalyst for creating numerous other companies and jobs in this area.

UB President John Simpson accepting the Amherst Chamber Business of the Year Award from David Rutecki of M&T Bank.

I interviewed Dr. Robert Smolinski and Dr. Claudia Fosket as they accepted the UB Believers Award.