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MY NAME IS IDA GOECKEL AND I AM A TWO TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. THIS BENEFIT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER’S STAFF PROVIDED ME A SECOND CHANCE AND THAT LED ME TO INDEPENDENTLY EXPLORE MY OPTIONS. WITH CARING, COMPASSIONATE, NONCONDESCENDING TREATMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, THEY AND THE THEN WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER GAVE ME HOPE FOR A NEW FUTURE. AS A RESULT OF MY OWN RESEARCH, COMBINED WITH THEIR INPUT, I WAS ABLE TO EMPOWER MYSELF TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING MY CARE. IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE, I FOUNDED AND ORGANIZED THIS BENEFIT IN 2003, SO THAT OTHERS, WHO MAYBE NEEDED MORE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, COULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM THEIR SERVICES. IN 2022, THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER MERGED WITH THE MAIN RESOURCE CENTER TO EXPAND THEIR CAPABILITIES AND SPACE, NOW CALLED THE 11-DAY POWER PLAY RESOURCE CENTER. IN ADDITION, THEY ADDED AND COORDINATE WITH THE SALON CALLED ELEVATE SALON THAT FOCUSES ON HAIR CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH CANCER RELATED HAIR LOSS. THE SECONDARY MISSION OF THIS BENEFIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HIGHLIGHT FEMALE MUSICIANS IN AN INDUSTRY WHO DESERVE EQUAL ATTENTION AND KUDOS. THIS YEAR’S RETURNING FEMALE MUSICIANS ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE AND GENEROSITY.  
I ALWAYS SAY THIS AND DO MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART: IT HAS BEEN BOTH HUMBLING AND HEALING TO HAVE FOUNDED AND ORGANIZED THIS BENEFIT.  AS LONG AS THERE ARE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS WHO RELY ON THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT OF THIS CENTER, I MADE IT MY MISSION TO RAISE MONIES THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THIS SPECIFIC AREA AT ROSWELL BECAUSE PATIENT CARE, COUPLED WITH SELF-ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT, IS THE KEY TO A POSITIVE MINDSET BEFORE, DURING, AND POST TREATMENT. THROUGH THIS BENEFIT WE RAISE AWARENESS AND HONOR THOSE WHOSE FIGHT IS NOW A MEMORY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS BENEFIT NOT ONLY SERVES AS A FUNDRAISER, BUT ALSO AS BEACON OF HOPE, SUPPORT AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE BREAST CANCERS WARRIORS, AND AS A CELEBRATION OF SURVIVORSHIP. 

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I DON’T PUT A FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS ENDEAVOR TOGETHER LIKE THIS ALL BY MYSELF. I VIEW MYSELF AS MERELY THE FACILITATOR THAT WATCHED AS HER VISION CAME TO FRUITION EVERY YEAR. THIS FUNDRAISER RECEIVES NO FINANCIAL CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, BUT IS A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY SPONSORED EFFORT BY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE A HAND IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WHO I’D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME NOW TO SINCERELY THANK:

1. MY HANDFULFUL OF EXTREMELY AND FAITHFULLY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS:

a. MARAGARET FREIERT-SET UP/TICKET TAKER/DOOR PERSON/EVENT DAY COORDINATOR/SET UP/BASKET WRAPPER/TRANSPORT
b. JOHN GRACE- SET UP/RAFFLE TIX SALES/TRANSPORT
c. ROBIN EASTMER-SET UP AND 50/50 SALES
d. SUSAN SCHOLTERER-LEAD SETUP AND BASKET ORGANIZER/MONITOR
e. NINA GRACE  – SET UP/RAFFLE SIGN MAKING/BOOK SALES
f. CELIA O’ BRIEN-RAFFLE TIX SALES/TRANSPORT

g. CATHERINE GRACE- DECORATIONS/TOPS LIAISON

i. MARGO IMPROTA STAUFFER – PINCH HITTER/TRELIEF

h. DONNA GRACE – DECORATION PICK UP AND SET UP/TABLE MONITOR

j. DEBORAH LOKE- WHO NOT ONLY DESIGNS OUR POSTERS AND BUILT AND HELPS MAINTAIN THE BENEFIT WEBSITE, BUT ALSO HAS STEPPED UP TO BE OUR OUTSTANDING AND ILLUSTRIOUS MC 

2. THE HALL FAMILY-DWANE & DENISE, JEFF, & JAMES AND ESPECIALLY JASON, ANDTHE SPORTSMEN’S TAVERN FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING THE VENUE, SOUND, LIGHTS AND BACKLINE AS WELL AS SEVERAL AMMENTITIES AND GUIDANCE. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM. LET’S GIVE A SHOUT TO THE NEW ADDITION AND SPACIOUS RENOVATIONS! THANKS TO THE HARDWORKING BARTENDING AND KITCHEN STAFF. THANKS TO THE SUBERB SKILLS OF JOHN SHOTWELL ON SOUND AND LIGHTS!

*3. ROSWELL PARK’S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION AND TEAM ROSWELL FOR THE SANCTIONING OF THIS EVENT AND AMANDA BERG FOR BEING OUR LIAISON! ALSO TO KIM SWEENEY FOR COMING OUT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF ROSWELL. 

4. VANESSA REHAC FOR PRINTING EVERY YEAR WITHOUT QUESTION. 

5. DAN RUGGERIO- PHOTOGRAPHER FOR TODAY TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT 

6. PROMOTIONAL PLUGS- COMMUNITY CALENDARS AT THE BUFFALO HIVE/ELMER PLOETZ , SEAMUS GALLIVAN/ RECONNECTOR/BUFFALODOWN, DENNIS GALLAGHER/THE BUFFALO ROCKET, BUFFALO SPREE EVENTS PAGE, AND BUTCH KALSON FOR THE CONNECTION TO TONY BATTLIANA AT WIVB FOR THE NEWS AT 4 LIVE INTERVIEW

7. THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES/INDIVIDUALS WHO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED RAFFLE PRIZES/GIFT CERTIFICATES/DONATIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT. IT’S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE GENEROUS PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES SO YOU CAN SEE HOW INVESTED THEY ARE IN THIS BENEFIT.THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY, FOLKS:

Joe/Allentown Music, Gene Fisher, Rob/West Seneca Music, Vince/Music City Buffalo, Rudy/Twin Village Music, Sue/Her Story, Barry/Terrapin Station, Michelle/Riviera Theatre, Wendy/Artpark, Catherine Grace& family, Luca Butkowski, Nina Grace, Deb Gonzales, Tops Markets, Mary Falzone, Rick Falkowski, Michael/Bomi Jewelers, Max Willig, Kevin Bowen/Industrial Nostalgia, Mike Stapleton/Buffalo Kiln Works, Susan Scholterer, Michelle Graves, Artsphere/Doreen DeBoth, Daneen Woolstrum, Dee Adams, Kelley Mattheison, Meghan Higman, Janet Lester Webb, Dave/The Phoenix at 269, Keri & Oded/The Falafel Bar, Richard & Carolyn/BMHOF, Celia O’Brien, Susan Murray-Ross, Nancy Hoetlzl. Robin Eastmer, Alison Kurek, Deb Hess, Joel/Honey Kenmore Dispensary, Zach/Bloom & Rose, Rosemary Cena, Bob/Screening Room, Sandy & Bill Geary, Blue Wojciechowski, Ruth Robson, Darbie Maccubbin, Theresa Wyatt, Jayne Mack, Mike Stapleton/Buffalo Kiln Works, the late,great George Grace, Donna Grace, Carmen Torres-Bursie, Nancy Coniff, Lynn Biasillo, Jeannine Baran, Sue Clementi, Sandy Griffin Krege, Joe Golombeck, Adrienne Thompson, Maria Patrick Roberts, Marcie Kudlowitz, Mark Montozzoli, Aaron Featherman, Ronald Folkman, Terri Wagner, Deb Lipka and Mark/Madd Tattoo. Thank you for your sense of community support and generosity! LET’S GIVE A HAND FOR WNY COMMUNITY!!!!

8. TO ALL THE PERFORMERS: AS ALWAYS, WHAT A GREAT, SUPPORTIVE, SELFLESS, TOP NOTCH LINEUP OF TALENT!! THANK YOU TO AMANDA MARKOVICH, MAGGIE CONBOY, JAMIE SUNSHINE, SONG RIO, AND LUKE FROM RANDLE & THE LATE NIGHT SCANDALS, THE SEQUINS BAND FEATURING MELODY CATALANO, RIC STAVE, MICKY JUDWARE, AND HENRY RICHARDS,SOUL SPECTRUM FEATURING LAUREN VARGOVICH, STACY NICASTRO, TJ IZZO, MARTY WHITEFORD,JASON DRURYS, JOHN SERPE,ADELAJA YOUNG, SCOTT NICASTRO, AND MOJO MERGLER, AND TO BIG CITY HORNS FEATURING MARIA ANGELOVA ALONG WITH BEN BAIA AND A VETERAN CREW OF PLAYERS, INCLUDING CALVIN RICE, RON PALADINO, PAUL YATES, PAUL WARNER, AND FILLING IN FOR THIS EVENT, FRANK GRISANTI AND MIKE LACKI.

9. A SINCERE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED, WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT TO SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE, WITH MUSIC AS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL YEAR! GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND!

HOLY CATS! WITH 298 FOLKS THRU THE DOOR, NOT TO MENTION THE EVENT VOLUNTEERS, SPORTSMEN’S STAFF, AND PARTICIPATING MUSICIANS, WE HAD ANOTHER INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR! SO HERE IS IT FOLKS, THE GRAND TOTAL YOU RAISED FOR THE 11-DAY POWER PLAY RESOURCE CENTER AT ROSWELL PARK THRU THE FMFBC BENEFIT, VIA YOUR OVERWHELMING GENEROSITY… (DRUM ROLL PLEASE) …. $8,840.00!! A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR THIS FUNDRAISER! WITH THIS LATEST TOTAL, OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS, WE HAVE RAISED APROXIMATELY $78,000! SOMETHING I AM PERSONALLY VERY GRATEFUL FOR!

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU ALL!!!!