Elvis Appreciation Society donates $8,000 to Hospice, hosting spring dance to benefit cystic fibrosis

LANCASTER- In January, the WNY Elvis Appreciation Society, Inc., held its fourth annual “Birthday for the King,” celebration, featuring Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Terry Buchwald, the society raised an astonishing $8,000 for Hospice.

In the last three years, the society has donated a total of $10,500 to Hospice and with this year’s celebration; the total has significantly increased to $18,500.

“This year, we are very proud to say that we donated $8,000,” remarked WNY Elvis Appreciation Society, Inc., Secretary/Treasurer Sylvia Walworth.

The funds raised for Hospice have been designated for the next five years to the new Hospice facility that will be built, and Jennifer Wudyka, special event associate for Hospice, said the funds are also used toward beautifying the grounds of Hospice.

“We’re pretty lucky in the sense that our donations are going up higher and higher each and every year,” commented Wudyka. “I would say on average there are probably over a 100 different groups, businesses, or organizations that donate and it is from events that they run on their own such as, dress down days, raffle baskets, or company picnics. We have been very lucky. It has been wonderful. They have helped us provide so many services to all our patients and families.”

WNY Elvis Appreciation Society, Inc., President Kevin Kedzierski said the celebration has grown bigger each year.

“When we tell people about the organization we are giving it to, we have no trouble selling anything,” remarked Kedzierski. “Hospice touches everybody one way or another.”

Hospice Buffalo offers care for more than 550 patients with serious illness each day in homes, hospitals, adults’ homes, nursing facilities, group homes, Hospice residences, and at the Hospice Mitchell Campus in Cheektowaga.

For those who missed the January celebration, the society has decided to host another event this year called, “Elvis Lives,” commemorating Presley’s first performance at the Memorial Auditorium. This event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Michael’s Banquet Facility, 4885 Southwestern Blvd., in Hamburg. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10 presale, $15 day of, and reserved tables are available for presale purchase of 10 tickets. There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and special raffles. There will be a cash bar and food will be available for purchase.

And of course, the one and only Terry Buchwald will be performing on stage and all funds raised will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide), according to the foundation. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections

• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

Members of the society will be donating the money raised to the foundation at the 2012 Great Strides walk-a-thon, which will be used for research and care. The walk will be held Saturday, May 19.

For tickets to the dance call Marge at 860-1030 or for more information about the society visit www.wnyeas.com or email wnyelvisappreciationsociety@yahoo.com.

The mission of the society is “to keep the memory of Elvis Presley alive through the continued awareness of his music, movies, generosity, and life.”