May 13, 2026
ADVANCE RAFFLE TICKET PURCHASE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 4 PM ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 13!
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RE: Know before you go: Welcome and check-in to the 34th Annual Maria Love Fund Spring Luncheon!
Dear Luncheon Guests,
The Maria Love Fund Board of Directors is pleased to welcome you to the traditions of the 34th Annual Maria Love Fund Spring Luncheon: Choosing Love and Gratitude! We are so glad you will be joining us on Thursday, May 14, at the Country Club of Buffalo! We especially look forward to recognizing over twenty incredible grant recipients! A very special thanks to Honorary Co-Chairs Cynthia Ciminelli and Julie Szumigala-Farkash and Auction Chair Jill Metz for making this day possible! Special recognition to artist Patti Thomas (The Ghost) for allowing the use of her Choose Love collection to visualize our messages of Love, Hope, Gratitude, Unity, and Peace. Please take a moment to read the details of the day in its entirety!
Know before you go
We cordially request that you confirm your attendance, check-in and put your credit card on file so that your general auction raffle tickets, silent auction, giving tree, and Jewelry Tower raffle purchases go as quickly and smoothly as possible. Located in the auction tent, the Giving Tree is an opportunity for guests to directly support the Fund with gifts ranging from $5-$250! Additional general auction tickets are available for advance purchase until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, May 12 and will be ready for you along with your place card when you arrive. Raffle tickets may also be purchased upon arrival. Jewelry Tower Tickets may only be purchased on-site and you must be present to win! Each guest (and guest of guest) should have a credit card on file associated with their name. You will receive your personal check-in link within the next 24-hours. Follow that link to check-in and put your credit card on file.
Here are the details of the day!
Eleven O'Clock Arrivals
Plan to arrive just before 11:00 AM to the Country Club of Buffalo on Youngs Road in Williamsville. Valet parking is available to all attendees. Enter through the main doors of the club. Our Board of Directors will greet you at the door and help you gather your raffle tickets and place card which includes your table number and dining room. Once you have your place card in hand, proceed to the Club Room where you may make additional raffle ticket purchases, take a photo, and purchase a chance or two to win a Cartier Love Necklace, which was graciously donated by Alanna Kelly-Beaton! Grab a glass of champagne and join us in the main tent to make your general auction selections, silent auction bids, and scan to donate one of our Giving Tree tags! Our lovely volunteers from M&T Bank will assist you with all additional purchases!
This year, your raffle tickets are the same number as your Bid number. Be sure to use the number presented at check-in for all of your silent auction bidding!
Welcome beverages, our General Auction with over 50 beautiful items, JEWELRY TOWER Raffle with the chance to win a Cartier Love Necklace, and GIVING TREE will begin promptly. Limited Jewlery Tower tickets are $100 each and will be available on-site only in the Club Room area.
Our silent auction features works by artist Patti Thomas (The Ghost), 18-holes of golf at the Country Club of Buffalo with lunch and post-game beverages for you and two of your friends with Bob Bojdak; Auto-Detail at Northtown, and other surprises!
12:15 PM Luncheon Program
Please be seated for a brief program and lunch as we share our mission and message of Choosing Love & Gratitude, dedicate a moment of silence to the lives lost in our community on May 14, 2022, and recognize our grant recipients. We ask that you be courteous to the speakers by remaining quiet during our brief program. Lunch will be served at the conclusion of our comments and recognitions!
We look forward to greeting you this Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the 34th Annual Maria Love Spring Luncheon!
Warmly,
Julie VanDyke Gicewicz, Board President
Cynthia Ciminelli, Honorary Luncheon Chair
Julie Szumigala-Farkash , Honorary Luncheon Chair
Jill Metz, Luncheon Auction Chair
Sarah Williams, Board President-Elect