BASH*2013 Raises Over $352,000 to Support Red Cross Disaster Services

Local volunteers assisting 23 area residents following weekend fires

BUFFALO, NY, June 11, 2013 – BASH*2013 was a huge success, raising $352,00 to support American Red Cross Disaster Services in Erie & Niagara Counties. Over 4,000 “soldiers” marched on the grounds of Red Cross headquarters last Friday, June 7 for the 15^th Anniversary of this unique military-themed event, bidding on auction items donated by various members of the community, enjoyed food and drink from some of Western New York’s finest restaurants, all while dancing to the music of the DJs from Signature Entertainment and a live performance from the one and only Lance Diamond.

“I can’t thank our staff, volunteers, sponsors and supporters enough for making The BASH Buffalo’s party of the summer for the past 15 years,” said Nancy Blaschak, Regional Executive Director. “I especially want to thank our BASH Chairman, Mr. John Yurtchuk, for helping us bring in a record amount of corporate sponsorships this year, and the most important thing is that all the money raised at The BASH will help us prevent, prepare for and respond to disaster right here in Western New York.”

Since BASH*2013 wrapped up at midnight Friday, Red Cross volunteers have responded to three fires in the City of Buffalo, providing immediate emergency assistance including vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing as well as emotional support to 23 of our neighbors in need. Our Disaster Action Team responds to an average of a fire a day in Erie & Niagara Counties, providing an average of just over $1,000 in direct financial assistance when responding to a single family house fire affecting a family of four. 

More information on BASH*2013, including a full list of sponsors, participating restaurants and other supporters, is available at www.redcross.org/buffalobash. And save the date: the 16^th annual BASH is scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2014!

Dog Tag yourself into free BASH Tickets!

As you hopefully know by now, we are celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the BASH tomorrow evening. One of the great traditions of The BASH has been the "dog tag" (compliments of Tri-Metal Industries, Inc.) our guests receive each year. As you can see, The Colonel is quite proud of his collection:

Actually, these dog tags are from Thomas Latona, one of 
our Clement Trustees

So, how extensive is YOUR BASH dog tag collection? The first five people to tweet us @RedCrossBASH a picture of themselves with dog tags from five or more years of The BASH --or bring their collection to our 786 Delaware Avenue headquarters between 9am-5pm Friday--will win their choice of either a pair of General Admission tickets to #BASH2013 OR (if you already have tickets) a free BASH t-shirt. Good luck, and we'll see you here tomorrow night!

BASH Tent Trivia

Taking a look at our parking lot at 786 Delaware Avenue today, it's hard to believe. But 15 years ago, our first BASH took place under a single tent.

Clearly,The BASH has grown over the years. But do you know how much it's grown?? Between our parking lot and the front lawn, how many tents will there be for #BASH2013 on Friday night?? The first person to tweet @RedCrossBASH will win a FREE pair of General Admission tickets to our 15th Anniversary Friday night!!

If you don't win, don't worry. You can still purchase your tickets to The Party of the Summer by stopping by our Buffalo headquarters between 9am-5pm this week, and we have limited edition 15th Anniversary T-Shirts available, designed by Inspired Buffalo. Good luck, and we'll see you Friday!!

UPDATE: We have a winner! The correct answer is eight tents: Chairman's, VIP + two side pop-ups, General Admission, Auction, Volunteer and Will Call. You can see them all for yourself this Friday night!!

BASH*2013 Setting Up Base Camp at Red Cross Headquarters

#BASH2013 is setting up base camp at
Red Cross headquarters on Delaware Ave.

 The grounds of the Red Cross headquarters at 786 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo are being transformed into base camp for BASH*2013. The tents are going up as this one-of-a-kind military-themed fundraiser prepares to celebrate its 15^th Anniversary on Friday, June 7.

Get your tickets now! A limited number of BASH*2013 General Admission tickets remain available for purchase online at www.redcross.org/buffalobash. Each $75 ticket comes with two free drink tickets and all the food you can eat. Raffle tickets are also available by calling (716) 878-2235. Each $100 raffle ticket comes with two General Admission tickets plus the chance to win up to $10,000 in the BASH Raffle.

This party is big! Over 4,000 people will wear their best military gear and enjoy food and drink from some of the area’s best restaurants while dancing the night away to the music of Signature Entertainment’s DJs and a live performance by the one and only Lance Diamond. BASH*2013 guests will also have the opportunity to bid on dozens of unique auction items donated by members of the Western New York community, including vacations, original works of art, jewelry and much more. All proceeds from The BASH stay right here to support the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties’ mission of preventing, preparing for and responding to disaster in Western New York. BASH*2012 raised over $360,000 to support Red Cross Emergency Services, helping volunteers provide temporary housing, food, clothing and support for over 1,000 residents of Erie & Niagara Counties following fires and other disasters last year.

  

The BASH has been named “Buffalo’s Best Annual Fundraiser” by Artvoice five times. Follow us on Twitter @redcrossBASH and www.facebook.com/buffaloredcrossbash for the latest on our 15^th Anniversary Celebration. BASH*2013, where the only enemy is the dawn!

Get your tickets now at redcross.org/buffalobash, and
join us under the tents on June 7!

Busy day!

We just finished another planning meeting for The BASH (coming June 7!! Get your tickets now at www.redcross.org/buffalobash!), while at the same time we are deep in preparations for next Tuesday's Reverse Draw Event & Dinner in Niagara Falls. Sometimes, we get so busy putting together these great events that it's easy to forget why we do them in the first place. Then, a day like Tuesday comes along to remind us.

It started with a call to a fire on Wakefield in Buffalo to help 23 people from multiple families who had been affected. Just as volunteers arrived at that scene, a second incident took place at Briscoe in the City, where two more household with 11 total people needing assistance. Things then slowed down for a few hours but picked back up just after dinner, with a call to assist a family of four after a fire on Sunset Blvd in Angola. A couple hours later, our volunteers were called to May St in Buffalo to assist nine more people who were displaced by a fire there. Just as our team was leaving that scene, they were called to another fire on South Park Ave in Buffalo, where two more families had been displaced.

In all, volunteers Jose, Nicole, Julie, Widad, Diane and James provided temporary housing, food, clothing and support to 52 people from 12 families in less than 24 hours, and those numbers could still grow as some folks were not home at the time our team was on the scene. None of these disasters received much media attention, but that doesn't make them any less devastating for the people who were forced from their homes. Your local Red Cross was there to help these neighbors in need, thanks to your support.

So while you're anxiously waiting to see when your ticket will be pulled during the Reverse Draw or celebrating The BASH's 15th Anniversary with over 4,000 of your closest friends, take a moment to think about the real reason we hold events such as these, and know that you're helping give people such as these 12 families somewhere to turn in their most difficult moments. We promise to do the same the next time we're ready to bang our heads on our desks as we try to plan these parties!

The BASH to Celebrate 15th Anniversary June 7

Tickets for “Buffalo’s Best Annual Fundraiser” on sale now

This party is going to be big! The BASH is celebrating its 15^th Anniversary on Friday, June 7, and tickets for this one-of-a-kind, military-themed fundraiser are available now at www.redcrossbash.org.

Over 4,000 people will wear their best military gear to the American Red Cross headquarters at 786 Delaware Avenue to enjoy food and drink from some of the area’s best restaurants while dancing the night away to the music of Signature Entertainment’s DJs and a live performance by the one and only Lance Diamond. BASH*2013 guests will also have the opportunity to bid on dozens of unique auction items donated by members of the Western New York community, including vacations, original works of art, jewelry and much more. All proceeds from The BASH stay right here to support the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties’ mission of preventing, preparing for and responding to disaster in Western New York. Last year, BASH*2012 raised over $360,000 to support Red Cross Emergency Services.

BASH*2013 General Admission tickets are available for purchase online at www.redcrossbash.org. Each $75 ticket comes with two free drink tickets and all the food you can eat. For an even better deal, a limited number raffle tickets are available by calling (716) 878-2235. For $100, you get two General Admission tickets plus the chance to win $10,000, $5,000, or $2,500 in the BASH Raffle. Details on how to purchase raffle tickets, receive VIP benefits by becoming a BASH sponsor and how to purchase a special edition BASH t-shirt are also available at www.redcrossbash.org.

 

The BASH has been named “Buffalo’s Best Annual Fundraiser” by Artvoice five times, and this year’s 15^th Anniversary celebration will be better than ever. This party is big, but tickets are limited so get yours now and make sure you’re not shut out. Follow us on Twitter @redcrossBASH and www.facebook.com/buffaloredcrossbash for the latest on The Party of the Summer!