May 14, 2026
Dear Friend of the Maria Love Fund,
Thank you! We are so grateful to you for your part in making the 34th Annual Maria Love Fund Spring Luncheon a success!! Just by attending, you have chosen to use your power to instill Love & Gratitude! You are a shining example of what it means to be a thoughtful member of our community who cares deeply about the health and well-being of others. Your generous gifts of time and financial support make a definitive impact on the lives of hundreds of individuals in Erie County. We are proud to call you, "friend!"
Congratulations and so many thanks to our Honorary Luncheon Co-Chairs: Cynthia Ciminelli and Julie Szumigala-Farkash! Both women are former Directors of the Maria Love Fund, and we are proud to present them with the Maria Love Community Award in recognition of the countless hours they have spent making Western New York a better place for all who reside here. We are also profoundly grateful to Patti Thomas (The Ghost) for her beautiful Choose Love artwork and message of spreading love and kindness everywhere.
In addition to the many individuals we serve who are referred to us by the vast network of medical and social service agencies in Erie County, we are proud to announce this year's Maria's Grants recipients! We are so grateful for our ongoing partnerships with these 26 wonderful not-for-profit organizations, and we value everything they do on a daily basis for our community.
Heartfelt thanks to Auction Chair Jill Metz who brought this year's amazing auction to life! We are also incredibly grateful to Director Allanna Kelly-Beaton for her extraordinary generosity in sponsoring our beautiful jewelry tower piece: the Cartier Love Necklace! Special thanks are also in order to our wonderful volunteers from M&T Bank who made our check-in and check-out process run smoothly! Thank you all!
As an organization, the Maria Love Fund's Board of Directors sees the inherent beauty in each other, our supporters, our sponsors, and our partners. I am personally grateful to this very talented group-our Board of Directors, Directors Emeritus, and Committee Members for their constant desire to serve, sustain, innovate, collaborate, and grow the Maria Love Fund. Thank you all for your invaluable gifts of time, energy, financial resources, and fundraising efforts.. Thank you, Maggie Pfalzgraf for coordinating the Fund's social media presence over the last program year. And thank you-thank you so very much- to the Maria Love Fund's longtime Executive Director, Nancy B. Stevens, who continues to keep a pulse on our community and the many individual and agency cases we support. It takes all of us to reach our common goal of increased community impact, and I am very proud of all we have accomplished over the last four years when I have served as the Fund's Board President
Most importantly, this day was made possible by you, our loyal supporters, agency partners, corporate sponsors, and dear friends of Maria Love. The Maria Love Fund was founded on the premise of connecting and understanding the needs of our community, and addressing those needs in an immediate and purposeful way. Because of you, we are able to continue this important mission. Thanks to you, the Maria Love Convalescent Fund will be empowered to provide convalescent care assistance when needed, and every day: to exercise the tradition of Choosing Love & Gratitude.
As we approach our 124th year, we are more inspired, enthusiastic and hopeful for our community than ever! I am so grateful to my fellow Directors who have entrusted me with the role of president for the past four years. I will always cherish your gift of a Simon Pearce Love Vase and our time serving together. I know our next Board President, Sarah Williams, will take great care of Maria Love's legacy, instilling a spirit of community and giving! Please join me in supporting the Fund for many years to come.
Thank you for using your power to choose love & gratitude!
With Love & Gratitude,
Julie VanDyke Gicewicz, Board President
and the Maria Love Fund Board of Directors
We hope you will consider making a gift to support the Fund HERE
VIEW the 34th Annual Luncheon E-Program HERE
Complete your application HERE to be considered
for a role on our Board of Directors
SAVE THE DATE
123rd ANNUAL MARIA LOVE FUND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHARITY BALL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2026
MARY SEATON HALL ROOM AT KLEINHAN'S