BATAVIA — Make-A-Wish Western New York has $7.500 more to work with as it grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses, thanks to a donation Monday from Batavia Downs.
Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (WROTB) and Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented a check to staff from Make-A-Wish. The proceeds were from this past summer’s chair rentals, glow jewelry and can coolers at Batavia’s Rockin’ The Downs Summer Concert Series.
“Make-A-Wish Western New York does so much good in this community, we were pleased to continue our chair rental program with them this past summer,” Wojtaszek said. “All of us here at Batavia Downs are proud that we could help Make-A-Wish in their efforts to grant wishes for so many young Western New Yorkers.”
Throughout the 10 concerts of the Summer Concert Series, volunteers from Make-A-Wish worked a chair-rental booth. From there, the volunteers collected money for chairs while also selling glow jewelry and branded can coolers. The chairs are adorned with the Make-A-Wish logo and the message “The person sitting in this chair is helping to transform lives.”
Ben Marchione, regional director for Make-A-Wish Western New York, said, “Make-A-Wish is incredibly appreciative of our partnership with Batavia Downs for the “Rockin’ the Downs” Summer Concert Series to raise both awareness and crucial funds to help support children and families fighting critical illnesses, not only in the Batavia community but throughout this 17-county region.”
Marchione thanked all the concert-goers who supported this year’s efforts and to Batavia Downs for making it possible.
“It is only through vitally important partnerships such as this that we are able to continue to serve our essential mission and we are incredibly thankful for the opportunity,” he said.
The 2023 Concert Series lineup is expected to announced in the coming weeks.
Make-A-Wish has, to date, fulfilled the wishes of more than 3,500 children in the Western New York area. Regional offices are located in Buffalo and Rochester serving 17 counties in the state.
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