Erie County, NY – Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs will be hosting an open-to-the-public blood drive with Unyts, WNY’s only organ, eye, tissue and community blood center, on Saturday, May 11th from 9am-2pm at the Erie County Auto Bureau located at 2122 George Urban Blvd. in Cheektowaga.

“Giving the gift of life through a blood donation is critically important,” Jacobs said.  “By giving blood, you are helping to make sure there is blood available for your friends and neighbors in their time of need. I would also like to encourage the community to enroll on the New York State Registry as an organ and tissue donor and help the more than 117,000 currently waiting for a transplant.”

More than 25 National Grid executives and employees assisted Tifft Nature Preserve ecological technicians and staff employees in the planting of more than 115 new trees at Tifft Nature Preserve in efforts to replace invasive trees with ecologically friendly species. The day of tree planting is just one example of the commitment National Grid has in Western New York to be an environmentally responsible and good corporate citizen.

National Grid’s tree planting volunteerism was in conjunction with Tifft Nature Preserve’s tree regeneration project which is being funded by a $300,000 grant from the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee (GESC).  The Committee is affiliated with the Niagara River Greenways Fund, established by the New York Power Authority as part of the re-licensing of the Niagara Power Project.

Less than one month after Appeal Week 2013 ended, volunteers for the annual Appeal in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo must raise $1 million more to reach this year’s $10.7 million campaign goal. Today, the organization announced $9,738,391.31 has been raised in cash and pledges, representing 91 percent of the goal. Appeal officials said this is right on track with where the 2012 Appeal stood at this time last year.

Appeal Week 2013, held March 17-24, marked the strongest push for parish donations to support the myriad programs Catholic Charities offers, including behavioral health services, food pantries, basic relief services, the refugee assistance program, and counseling for individuals, children and families.

The 2013 Appeal ends June 30 and efforts to increase support from lapsed and new donors will continue in parishes, schools and the corporate community.