Acknowledgements
08/22/2009
The WNY Chapter held a Comedy Night in August. A laugh-out-loud, fun-filled time was had by all. Over 20 theme baskets were raffled off and a 50/50 split was held. The event rasied over $1100 to help find a Cure for SMA.
Thanks Diane for making a difference!
08/02/2008
The 5th Annual SMArt Walk raised a little over $35,000.00. This was the first year that the weather was a bit questionable, but we still had a nice turn out about 300 walkers participated. This year with the help of Senitor George Maziarz we received legislative proclamation from New York State proclaiming August as SMA Awareness Month Also our chapter received a $5000.00 grant from the NYS dept. of health for research and family support. Thanks to all the supporters for keeping up the fight to cure SMA. See you next year August 1st. 2009!
08/04/2007
We are truly blessed here in WNY. The 2007 SMArt Walk for a cure was celebrated again for the 4th year at Beaver Island State Park on a picture perfect warm and blue sky day. Because of the generosity and support of over 350 family and friends, $67,000.00 had been raised to find a cure. Thank you to all our supporters and volunteers this would never be possible without you.
06/16/2007
A special thanks to Brad and Peggy Shiesley for putting together another successful Pig Roast to find a cure for SMA. The pig, dishes to pass and deserts were outstanding. All the kids had a great time playing by the pond and fishing. The event raised over $400.00.
04/21/2007
The 5th. Annual Challenge Volleyball Tournament was another big success. Raising just over $3000.00. Collectively since the tournaments began in 2003 they have raised over $10,000.00 to find a cure for SMA. We are forever grateful to Rob Litten, founder of the event and for the leadership of Rob Albert and great organizational skills of Michele Prosser making the event run smooth and with such success. Thank you to all who participated and volunteered behind the scenes and to Pam Shiesley for bar tending and donating all her tips to the cause. Thank you to the winner of the huge candy basket for donating it to Kale that night. He was quite the happy boy.
08/05/2006
2006 SMArt Walk for a Cure was a wonderful success. We are truly blessed in WNY. We had another beautiful day at Beavor Island State Park. There was a record number of walkers, more than 400 and raised over $50,000.00 to find a cure for SMA.
Thank you all who participated in our heartfelt event for your time and donations.
Hope to see you next August.
TOGETHER WE WILL FIND A CURE.
07/15/2006
HOT, HOT, HOT! Are the words you can use to describe the day of the SMA Pig Roast. Despite the low turn out of people we raised over $500 to help find a cure for SMA. Brad and Peggy Shiesley did an outstanding job opening up their home for this event. We are truly grateful for your love and support to Kale and SMA.
06/03/2006
To honor the memory of Meghan Wiesner her family along with the help of Brasser's Brownie Troop 305 held a garage sale on June 3rd 2006 which is also Meghan's birthday. What an inspirational way to remember Meghan and benefit FSMA. Almost $500.00 was raised to help find a cure for SMA. A huge heartfelt thank you goes out to the Wiesner family.
04/22/2006
The 4th Annual Challenge Volleyball Tournament was fast paced and fun to watch. Incredibly well run and organized by founders Rob Litten, Rob Albert, & Michele Prosser. Words can not say how deeply FSMA appreciate's all your hard work. Over $2800.00 has been raised to find a cure for SMA.
Special Thank you to all the sponsors;
JL Automotive, I.T.S.Industrial Tool Sharpening,
Dentist - Joseph Koszelak, Cinelli-Niagara River Guides, Somadynamics-Matt Meyer, Brighton Tools,
MIA Pizzeria & Renaissance Club for accommodating over 80 people at the dinner social afterwards.
04/02/2006
The Teddy Geiger concert was incredible. It was a sold out show raising over $4800.00 for SMA research. Many thanks to the Catalano & Blair Families for orchanstrating everything! What a fabulous job you did. Hat's off to you Teddy for helping with the fight to cure SMA and for creating SMA awareness.
12/09/2005
We would like to thank BOMA Rochester for choosing the WNY Chapter of FSMA as their charity of choice
for 2005. They have provided an excellent platform to raise awareness of SMA and shown tremendous
generosity in their efforts to raise money to help find a cure. A check for $2500 was presented to FSMA at
their holiday luncheon. It has been a great honor to work with such a caring and professional organization.
Special thanks to Mark Merry for nominating FSMA.
Also,Jim & Karen Wiesner for representing the WNY Chapter. Your support is very much appreciated.
12/02/2005
We would like to sincerely thank Mary Gutberlet, Terri Cuibiotti, and The Holy Ghost Church Glimmers of Love 10th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony for choosing SMA as their charity to donate to this year. Raising $3000.00. It was a cold and windy night in Rochester but you hardly notice by all the warm smiling faces surrounding the lights outside the church. Afterwards, we were all invited to have refreshments. We had a wonderful time with new friends we've seem to have known forever. The kindness shared that night will be cherished and remebered forever.
10/30/2005
The Millenium Hotel and Peggy Shiesley helped the Families of SMA get together for a Halloween celebration. The hotel supplied pizza and beverages and a "haunted room" was decorated by Pam Shiesley.
The children played games and created halloween crafts and enjoyed treats. Families were able to create their own special animals from The Gingerbear House.
It was a great time to get to know one another. Look forward to next year!
09/17/2005
The 1st Annual Paddle for a Cure was an incredible fundraising event, held at the Genesee Valley Park in Rochester, NY. It may have been a grey damp day, but you didn't even notice it, because spirits were so high. This outstanding event was organized by Dorothy and Doug Caine. The Paddle is a tribute to the Caines SMA angel Audra. The event raised over $18,000.00 and brought in almost 200 particiaptes. You don't want to miss this event next year. The 2nd Annual Paddle for a Cure is schduled for September 23, 2006. See you there!
08/06/2005
A special thanks to State Senator George Maziarz and Nicholas Picholas from Kiss 98.5 for Co-charing the 2nd. Annual SMArt Walk for a cure. The WALK was a delightful success. It is a lot of hard work and we appreciate the support that we generously recieve from so many individuals and groups. It was a beautiful bright sunny day for the walk bringing in almost 300 walkers and raising a little over $35,000.00. Please see our 2005 Sponsor page that list everyone who graciously and unconditional supported the WALK this year. If there is someone that was over looked we most certainly apologize, please notify Bonnie Shiesley to make sure that they are acknowledged. We look forward to the 2006 SMArt Walk on August 5th. Hope to see you there!!
07/09/2005
WNY FSMA Chapter would like to heartfeltly thank Andrea & Mark Grieg for raising $10,000.00 to help find a cure for SMA with a basket raffle in memory of their son Nicholas. Nicholas lives on in every butterfly we see.
06/01/2005
An extremly special thank you to Michele Prossor for her time and energy putting together the First Issue of the WNYFSMA Newsletter. It was well recieved with a lot of positive feedback. You made it seem effortless. We sincerely appreciate your dedication and support to help bring awareness and find a cure for SMA.
05/21/2005
Thank you Karen Shiesley for rasing $100.00 by holding a garage sale at your home. Karen is always thinking of ways to raise money to help find a cure for SMA. Nice job Karen!
05/07/2005
It was a beautiful day for the 3rd Annual Chowder and Bake Goods Sale hosted by John & Terrie Litten owners of JL Automotive in North Tonawanda where the event is annually held was another fun success. Raising this year $700.00 to help find a cure for SMA. Thank you to all the friends and family for graciously supporting our fundraising efforts. Thank you so much Granny & DziDzi!!! Love, Kale.
04/16/2005
3rd Annual Co-ed Challenge Volleyball Tournament was a big success. Raising over $1300.00. Each year this event gets more and more succesful thanks to the dedication of Rob Litten, Michele Prossor, Rob Albert, & Gail Tylec. 70 players competed in the event hosted at NCCC. A very special thank you to the Renissance Club in North Tonawanda for letting us hold the after party there. Also a much appreciated thank you to John & Terrie Litten, Nicole Litten, Luke & Diane Hodgson for making it fun and run smoothly. Next year's date is April 22, 2006. See you there!
05/15/2004
The 2 Annual Bake Good/Chowder Sales was a wonderful success. Despite the rainy cold day we had, we raised $1400.00 for a cure. Thank you to all who baked such great goodies. We would also like to thank with a great big huge John & Terrie Litten, Karen & Les Shiesley, Dennis, Skip, Mike, Patty, Donna, Joey, Brett, and everyone who helped with this fun fundraiser to find a cure for SMA.
03/27/2004
The 2nd Annual Coed Challenge Volleyball Tournament was a great success. It raised $1375.00 this year and had 47 players participating. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Rob Litten who made running the event seem effortless. We also need to thank Gail Tylec for allowing the tournament to be held again in the gym of Niagara Community College and to The 3rd Ward Social Club in North Tonawanda for having the party following the event. Many thanks to Rocco Lucci, Luke & Diana Hodgson, Michelle Prosser, Nicole Litten, Brenda & Mike Milek, and John & Terrie Litten. This could not have happened with out your commitment and help to find a cure. Looking forward to next year!!!!
12/16/2003
Ingram Micro Inc., graciously donated $500.00 for newly diagnosed family support. Thank you John Mancuso for your hard work and friendship.
12/10/2003
A big thanks goes out to Tina Maxwell the owner of Curves for Women. A donation bucket was put on the counters of the Wheatfield and Tonawanda Curves locations and raised $81.40. We are grateful for Nicole Litten for helping member donate.
12/05/2003
The Grigg-Lewis Foundation, Inc. was gracious enough to provide our chapter with a $1000.00 Grant. Many thanks to Chrissy Taylor for her hard work on this project.
12/04/2003
Volland Electric Equipment Corporation raised $317. 00 to find a cure for SMA with a raffle for a Buffalo Bills Basket. Way to go! Thank you Alyssa.
12/01/2003
Linda & Charlie Smith of Ilion New York continue to help find a cure with a donation of $1500.00 from TLC Photography Studio in loving memory of their Angel and grandson Eric Harrison Alford.
11/30/2003
Kevin, Bonnie, & Kale's Salt Lake City Television Interview. Click here to read article.
08/10/2003
BBQ at the Wilson Boat Yard in Wilson NY was a huge success and another beautiful place to visit in Western NY. There was a fishing contest for the little ones and a Chinese auction for the adults. Thank you Brad , Peggy, & Pam Shiesley for all your hard work and dedication to finding a cure, $3500.00 was raised.
07/30/2003
"Glory Be To Kids" a local organization chose SMA as it's charity in early 2003. A very heartfelt thank you goes out to Felicia Roggow, The Jacobs Family, and the entire Dom Polski's Gang. The major fundraising events such as an annual golf tournament and softball tournament raised over $20,000.00 to help find a cure. Thank you for being such an inspiration in making a difference.
07/25/2003
Congratulation to the Niagara Harley Davidson Club for raising $800.00. It was a cold and rainy day but the view in Lewiston NY was still beautiful.
05/31/2003
Way to go to Rob Litten for having the first annual Challenge Volleyball Tournament and raised over $1000.00. The second annual CVT is in March 2004 for more information contact Rob. Your incredible Rob.
05/17/2003
Awesome turnout for the first annual Bake Good/Chowder Sale held in the parking lot of JL Automotive. Despite a cold day in May over $3000.00 was raised to find a cure for SMA. Look for the second annual BGC Sale May 15, 2004. Thank you John and Terrie Litten.