Arthur Moats, United Way and Red Cross Team Up to Help Local Fire Victims

Bills LB met recipients of gift at dinner Wednesday

Bills LB Arthur Moats with staffers from the Red Cross and
the United Way of Erie County at Red Cross HQ after
meeting the recipients of his generous donation Wednesday

BUFFALO, NY, May 1, 2013– Buffalo Bills linebacker Arthur Moats is helping a Buffalo family that is attempting to rebuild after losing everything in a fire last month. Through a generous donation Moats is providing toys for the children, computers for school, furniture and much more to help this family on the road to recovery. Moats and his family had the opportunity to meet the recipients of their generosity and personally deliver some of these gifts during a private dinner catered by One Eyed Jack’s in Lockport Wednesday evening at the Administrative Headquarters of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties. Due to concerns regarding client confidentiality, the recipients of these gifts will remain anonymous.

“This family has been through so much the past few weeks, and it’s my honor to be able to help them get back on their feet,” Moats said. “I hope all of Western New York will join me in helping our neighbors in need by making a donation to the American Red Cross.”
The family has been receiving assistance from the American Red Cross since the fire in early April. Last year, a total of 1,046 people in Erie and Niagara Counties received food, clothing, shelter and support from the Red Cross following a fire or other disaster. All assistance is free, and the Red Cross relies on the generosity of the American public to provide these vital services in the community.

“We are so thankful that Arthur Moats has decided to help this family,” said Nancy Blaschak, Regional Executive Director of the American Red Cross.  “I hope this community will follow his example and make a donation to support us as we help the hundreds of other Western New York families who suffer a similar disaster each year.”

The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties spends an average of just over $1,000 when responding to a single house fire affecting a family of four.  To make a financial donation to those affected by house fires and other disasters down the street, across the country, or around the world, please visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to charge a $10 donation to your cell phone bill.

Thanks and good luck, "Senator!"

It's not every morning that my daily media search for Red Cross mentions leads me to the sports section. So I was a little surprised this morning that entering "Red Cross" into the Buffalo News search engine led me to the article on the Buffalo Bills releasing Nick Barnett and George Wilson. But I shouldn't have been.

First, some quick background. In my previous career as a television sports producer, we called George Wilson "The Senator" because of his speaking skills. The safety was always one of our "go-to guys" in the Bills locker room because we know he would always answer our questions thoughtfully and respectfully. There are a number of sports reporters and broadcasters in Western New York whose jobs got a little more difficult now that Wilson is gone.

Former Bills safety George Wilson with Communications
Coordinator Jay Bonafede at Ralph Wilson Stadium
blood drive in December

But the media aren't the only people in town that will miss George Wilson. As the article above points out, he was named the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year twice for his work in the community. That work included serving as a spokesman for Red Cross blood drives at Ralph Wilson Stadium. I spoke with him at the drive in December, which brought in over 350 units of blood, and he could not have been more gracious.

Change is constant in the world of sports, and new players will come in to fill these spots on the Bills roster. But George Wilson (and Nick Barnett, whom we never dealt with but by all accounts is also a great guy) will be missed here in Western New York. We thank you for all you've done, and wish you luck in the future!

Ryan Fitzpatrick, United Way and Red Cross Team Up to Help Local Disaster Victims This Holiday

Bills QB urges others to “Give Something that Means Something” this season

Photo courtesy buffalobills.com

BUFFALO, NY, December 21, 2012 – For a second consecutive year, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is helping two area families that are attempting to rebuild after losing everything in separate fires this year feel at home for the holidays. Thanks to a generous donation through the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Fitzpatrick and his family have provided toys for the children, computers for school, furniture and much more to help these families on the road to recovery. The Fitzpatrick family had the opportunity to meet the recipients of their generosity and personally deliver some of the gifts during a private meeting Friday evening at the Administrative Headquarters of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties. Due to concerns regarding client confidentiality, the recipients of these gifts will remain anonymous.

“These families have been through so much this year, losing everything in the blink of an eye,” Fitzpatrick said. “We hope these gifts help to lift their spirits, especially during this holiday season.”

The families have been receiving assistance from the American Red Cross since their respective disasters.  “A fire or other life-changing disaster can happen to anyone at anytime,” Fitzpatrick said. “If everyone who watches me play on Sundays joined my family in helping our neighbors in need by giving a gift to the Red Cross this holiday, it would make a huge difference for our neighbors in need throughout Western New York.”

Last year, 1,046 people in Erie and Niagara Counties received food, clothing, shelter and support from the Red Cross following a fire or other disaster. All assistance is free, and the Red Cross relies on the generosity of the American public to provide these vital services in the community.

The American Red Cross joins the Fitzpatrick family in encouraging Western New Yorkers to “Give Something That Means Something” this holiday season. The 2012 Holiday Giving Catalog includes a variety of symbolic gifts that support Red Cross programs. Donors can help vaccinate an entire village in a third world country, provide food and shelter to a disaster victim, help purchase items like phone cards and supplies for members of the Armed Forces or help supply basic necessities to families in desperate need across the world. Catalog purchases also come with greeting cards than can be sent to your friends and family when you make a donation in lieu of a gift and to show others your Red Cross support during the holidays. The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution and provides support to the mission of the Red Cross.  Please visit http://www.redcross.org/gifts  to order your gift today.

“We are so thankful that Ryan Fitzpatrick and his family have chosen to help these families that were touched by disaster this year,” said Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties.  “The Red Cross helps people in need everywhere and every day, and financial donations are critical to allowing us to serve the Western New York community throughout the year.”

Communities coming together

photo courtesy of the bleacher report

Something that we love about the communities across the country is how they all come together to help during a disaster.  Here in Buffalo, we’re no different.  Buffalo Bills punter, Brian Moorman, announced that his team will join with New Era Cap Co. to make a donation of at least $10,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Joplin, Mo., which was ravaged by tornadoes late last month.

New Era will provide 10,000 pieces of clothing to residents in the Joplin area. Moorman also is auctioning off a game-worn Bills jersey on eBay, with the proceeds going to the Red Cross. Moorman's college, Pittsburg State, is less than 30 minutes from Joplin. To learn more about this partnership, click here to read the rest of the Buffalo News article.