Past Events & Fundraisers

 

Gilda's Club Western New York Presents 3rd Annual Teen Writing Contest

 

 The 3rd Annual Teen Writing Contest is open to any student in grades 9-12 who has been impacted by cancer in any way, whether their own, a family member's, a friend's or a teacher's diagnosis. Anyone who submits their own original work is eligible to enter and cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors.

We are looking for entries that are in either poetry or essay format, with a maximum of 500 words. Students are encouraged to write openly and honestly, within the limit of acceptable public language. They may write about anything that resonates with them about the cancer experience - fears, anger, grief, survival, change, positive impacts, etc. Students are also encouraged to discuss this activity with the people who are closest to them as their writing and participation may generate new levels of communication in families touched by cancer.

Entries will be accepted any time between now and December 4th, 2009. Winners will be announced in January at an awards ceremony reception honoring participants and their guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all who made our Gingerbread Event, 2009, a tremendous success. We look forward to seeing you next year. Please check back soon for photographs.

2009 Gingerbread...Gifts...Glitz Event at Gilda's Club

Thanks to all who participated in our 2009 Gingerbread...Gifts...Glitz event at Gilda's Club WNY!  Each year the event continues to grow and the gingerbread creations increase in quality - this year was no different!  Approximately 2,000 people came through the red doors the weekend of December 4-6th to view and bid on the incredible gingerbread houses created by local professional, amateur and student bakers.  We were fortunate to once again be part of the Artists in Buffalo Holiday Open Studios & Galleries; over 20 local vendors were present at the clubhouse throughout the weekend.  Visitors enjoyed the perfect way to accomplish holiday shopping while supporting a good cause as the artists donated 20% of their proceeds to Gilda's Club WNY.  Click here to see a list of participating vendors (PDF format).

Special thanks to all those who competed in this year's gingerbread competition!  Congratulations to this year's winners - first, second and third places are listed below.

Professional Division:

1st Place: Donna Rorabaugh

2nd Place: Meghan Finamore

3rd Place: Zilly Rosen, Zilly Cakes

Amateur Division:

1st Place: Donna Stierheim & Evelyn Riffel

2nd Place: Debra Vertoske

3rd Place: Joanne Brown & Kathy Egan

College Division:

1st Place: Aimee R. Loughran, Niagara County Community College

2nd Place: Jodi Casseri, Niagara County Community College

3rd Place: Dawn Fritton Kapczgh

High School Division:

1st Place: Deanna Adamski, Erie 1 BOCES - Harkness Career Center

2nd Place: Sara Galante, Mill Middle School

3rd Place: Tyler Herman, Niagara Career & Technical Education Center

Thanks to our sponsors!

Basil Toyota
Basil Ford
Creditors Interchange
Buffalo Radiation Oncology
Erie and Niagara Insurance Association
First Niagara Bank
Greatbatch, Inc.
Harold C. Brown & Co., LLC
Harris Beach, PLLC
Lawley Vivacqua Scheff
Susan and Harvey Lichtblau
NECA, Western New York Chapter
NFADA Charitable Foundation
Try-It Distributing Co., Inc.
David Collins Productions
Jock and Betsy Mitchell
SignaCor, LLC
Independent Health
Susan B. Schoellkopf
William E. and Ann L. Swan Foundation

Survivor's Saturday Sampler
Saturday, June 20th
1:00-3:00 P.M.

Share with others what cancer survivorship means to you. Bring your family and friends to sample a taste of Gilda's Club. Join us for refreshments, fun, relaxing workshops, music, camaraderie, crafts for all ages, and a special presentation, "Survivor's Reading Theatre" by our very own Movin' On/Helping Hands Networking Group.

Free and open to the public.
Register by calling (716) 332-5900 by Friday, June 19th.

Taco Bell / KFC

Starting May 1, 2009 running through May 12, 2009, Taco Bell / KFC locations are offering customers a chance to buy a Gilda's Club WNY card to put their names on for display at the restaurant. Cards are only $1 and 100% of the proceeds come directly to Gilda's Club WNY. Sponsored by M&T Bank.

Thursday, March 26 from 6-8PM, Gilda's Club WNY hosted "Mix at 6", an after-work happy hour event for local professionals in their 20s and 30s. The event provided the opportunity to learn about the organization, take a tour of the clubhouse and discover easy ways to support those living with cancer. Attendees are also had the chance to network with one another and participate in a (free) raffle for various door prizes.

Many thanks to this quarter's co-hosts: Emily Burns, Michelle Giancaterin and Carolyn Human!  For more information on the next "Mix at 6"or for ways to get involved, please contact Robin at rvail@gildasclubwny.org

The Seventh Annual Gingerbread...Gifts...Glitz..., was a tremendous success. Thank you to all artists, volunteers, and members who contributed their time and talents!

2008 Gingerbread House Contest Winners:

AMATEUR DIVISION
First Place: Judy Kuzan/West Seneca & Amy Darcy/West Seneca Second Place: Fotini Renzoni/Clarence Third Place: Eileen Soro/Niagara Falls, NY

COLLEGE DIVISION
First Place: Megan Roffle & Lisa Cook/ Niagara County Community College Second Place: Aimee Mobus & Rick Vanone/ Niagara County Community College Third Place: Grace Borcynski/Erie Community College City Campus

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
First Place: Karl Struebel & Gabrielle Richter/Harkness Career & Technical Center Second Place: Periods 1 & 2/Emerson School of Hospitality Third Place: Periods 5 & 6/Emerson School of Hospitality

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
First Place: Tina Fago & Lauren Sikora/Lockport Second Place: Annette Gonzalez/Hard Rock Café, Niagara Falls, NY Third Place: Brenda Fischer/Brenda's Edible Arts/Lancaster

Photos from this past Gingerbread Event, 2008!

Above, top left: two samplings from our extraordinary gingerbread houses. Top right, the many gingerbread houses made by volunteers, and directly above (l-r):  Terri Campbell, Co-Chair,  Ann Swan, Chair Emeritus, and Anne Magnini, Co-Chair.

Stay tuned as details for our 2009 Gingerbread Event, will follow!

Click here for a full list of participating artists.

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Beyond the Red Door Fundraising Breakfast

October 23, 2008, 8am - 9am
Park Country Club, Williamsville NY

Gilda's Club WNY will be hosting their 3rd Annual Beyond the Red Door Fundraising Breakfast at Park Country Club in Williamsville, NY on October 23, 2008. The event features heartfelt stories from Gilda's Club WNY members. Thanks to the generous support of the community, the past two years have been very successful in raising approximately $200,000 in gifts and pledges each year. This fundraising event is free of charge and includes a continental breakfast. If you're interesting in learning more about the event, or interested in serving as a table host, please contact Robin Vail at 332-5900 ext. 207 or contact us.

Sponsored by Sorrento Lactalis Commercial, Inc. makers of: