SABRES’ GOALIE RYAN MILLER ANNOUNCES CARLY'S CLUB PARTNERSHIP & “Saves for Cancer” To Improve Lives of Childhood Cancer Patients
Grief from cousin’s death channeled into psychosocial support programs for Roswell Park patients and families
BUFFALO, NY - November 20, 2007. Following his cousin Matt Schoals’ untimely death from complications of a recent bone marrow transplant to treat cancer, the Buffalo Sabres’ Ryan Miller has announced an inspiring new partnership to help ensure children and teens like his “Matt Man” and their families have the emotional and psychological support needed to fight cancer and maintain a positive outlook throughout their battles.
Miller joined children and families served by Carly’s Club for Kids and Cancer Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) today to share that The Steadfast Foundation, created by Miller in 2006, will become the naming sponsor for all psychosocial support programs and activities for families served by Carly’s Club at Roswell Park. In addition, Miller unveiled a new Saves for Cancer program that will raise additional funds throughout the 2007-08 hockey season for Carly's Club at Roswell Park. Miller will also play a part in Roswell Park’s Gen-Y campaign to help spur interest in charitable giving to Roswell among 13-26-year-olds, and to encourage youth to pursue healthcare careers. Click here to view Carly's Club article and photos ››
“To turn his own grief into something to help so many other families so soon after losing Matt shows Ryan’s character and how passionate he is to improve the lives of children during their illness—despite the loss he and his family are still going through,” said Michael Zevon, PhD, Chairman, Psychosocial Oncology at RPCI.
Shoals, who suffered complications from a bone marrow transplantation in Lansing Michigan after successful treatment for leukemia, died on October 8, just one month after his 18t birthday. His courage provided inspiration to Miller throughout Schoals’ cancer battle and he became a part of Miller’s on-ice play through a “Matt Man” bulldog logo that became a permanent part of the back of Miller’s helmet.
“I see the same courage Matt and Carly showed in all the children I have met through Carly’s Club and Roswell,” said Miller. “You can never imagine how difficult this disease can be on an entire family until you’ve experienced it firsthand. Ensuring these supportive programs can continue so that children and their families can find strength, enjoy times together despite their illness, and gain support from caring professionals is something we needed to do, and wanted to do, to help make life more manageable for other families facing pediatric cancer.”
Along with regularly-scheduled visits to children served by Roswell Park, Carly’s Club programs to be funded by Miller’s Steadfast Foundation’s $50,000 contribution include group outings and special events to help children and families escape the rigors of treatment and connect with other families; social work and school intervention assistance to help children succeed in classes during and after treatment; the annual Cancer in the Classroom program for families and educators; and support programs run in the Pediatric Center at Roswell Park for inpatients (e.g. new patient comfort blankets and bags, mentoring, laptops, patient milestone parties, etc.). Funds raised for the efforts will come from monies raised by The Steadfast Foundation’s previous Catwalk for Charity events, and by the upcoming Catwalk for Charity event scheduled for February 2008.
The Saves for Cancer program will involve corporate sponsors such as West Herr agreeing to donate $10 for every on-ice save made by Miller. It is expected to raise up to an additional $50,000 for The Steadfast Foundation and Carly’s Club. Entercom Radio will provide media support for Saves for Cancer through its stations WGR-550, WBEN, Kiss 98.5 and Star 102.5.
Carly’s Club exists to offer support programs to make life more manageable for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, and to raise funds for pediatric cancer research seeking cures at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. It was founded by the late Carly Cottone Collard, a brain cancer patient at RPCI. Carly succumbed to her cancer in August 2002 at the age of 11, after a three-year fight. She had previously lost both her birth parents to cancer before her own diagnosis at age 8. Carly's Club is managed by the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, an independent 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization. For more information, visit Carly's Club on line.
The Steadfast Foundation, formed by Ryan Miller in 2006, is a non-profit corporation with a mission to assist those afflicted and affected by the consequences of cancer, and especially childhood forms of the disease. The goal of The Steadfast Foundation is to help provide patients and their families with support to improve their circumstances and attitude and give them the best environment and a better ability to battle the disease. For more information, see our About Page.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China, For more information, visit RPCI's website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI
(1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org
SABRES GOALIE RYAN MILLER HEADLINES COMPEER FUNDRAISER
Brian Lipke of Gibraltar and the Anthony Capozzi Family also honored
BUFFALO, NY – October 16, 2007 -- Buffalo Sabres All-Star goaltender Ryan Miller served as keynote speaker of Compeer of Greater Buffalo’s annual Miracle of Friendship fundraising event, which was held tonight at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Ryan was joined by his father, Dean Miller, who spoke about their family’s charitable efforts with the Steadfast Foundation. Proceeds from the event benefit Compeer for Kids, which provides mentors for more than 400 local children annually.
During the event, the Compeer board of directors presented the Anthony Capozzi Family with the Spirit of Compeer Award for their long-time support of their son Anthony’s battle with mental illness and wrongful imprisonment. Brian Lipke, chairman and CEO of Gibraltar Industries, was recognized with the Western New York Vision Award, given to an individual that has bettered and enriched the WNY community by blazing a trail of success in their field while also making significant contributions to the region and local non-profit communities.
“Each year, the number of attendees and corporate support continues to grow and this year's gala was Compeer's most successful yet,” said Michele Brown, executive director, Compeer of Greater Buffalo. “Proceeds from the event will help bring hope and friendship to at-risk children in our community. In recent years, we’ve been fortunate to bring out stars including Steve Tasker, Chris Berman, Jim Kelly, Pat LaFontaine, and Lindy Ruff, which is why this event is consistently a sports fan’s dream."
Community philanthropists Richard and Karen Penfold served as Honorary Chairs of the event, and former Buffalo Sabre Rob Ray was the Celebrity Chair.
Compeer is a not-for-profit agency that uses the power of friends and mentors to enrich the lives of children and adults striving for good mental health. More than 3,000 Western New Yorkers have benefited from the work of Compeer over the last 20 years. Compeer of Greater Buffalo was founded on January 1, 1985, and is a private, not-for-profit mental health agency. The organization serves adults, children and seniors who are diagnosed with mental illnesses, are at-risk or have emotional disturbances. Currently, Compeer has 425 people on its waiting list throughout Buffalo and Erie County.
For more information on Compeer, please visit www.compeerbuffalo.org.
MATTHEW DONALD SHOALS (aka MattMan) PASSES
At 6:05pm Monday, October 8, 2007 our MattMan ran out of time in his courageous battle against leukemia and the consequences surrounding the disease. We thank our extended family, friends and the communities of greater-Lansing, Michigan and Western New York for their love and steadfast support, and a special thank you to the medical teams in Lansing and in Detroit.
Matt will be sorely missed by all that came to know him. May he rest in peace. I know your prayers and good wishes are with Matt's family, especially his parents, D'Arcy (Miller) and Donald Schoals, his sisters, Meghan and Alexandria, and his sidekick Cooper the bully.
May Matt's love and courageous battle bring you strength and understanding.
CATWALK FOR CHARITY IN EAST LANSING A HIT
August 8, 2007 -
Ryan Miller and The Steadfast Foundation rocked East Lansing, Michigan by hosting a Catwalk for Charity at Club 131 on August 8th. The event was patterned after the heralded Buffalo fundraiser and was a hit with the hometown crowd. "We feel we have format of entertainment that many people have not experienced before and find they enjoy," said Miller. "Combining live musical talent and current fashion with good food and good company leads to a fun evening and proves to help raise funds that we can put towards our goals for supporting those in need."
275 supporters filled the popular college town venue and they were treated to excellent cuisine as they witnessed the finest amateur modeling talent available showcase designer fashion provided by The Refinery, Miller's clothing store. "Hockey players and their families and friends are natural performers and we are working to make sure they are also the best dressed people on the planet," Miller said laughing.
The Steadfast Foundation chose both The Children's Miracle Network (CMN) and The Michigan State University Children's Health Initiative (MSUCHI) as benefactors of the funds raised by this year's Catwalk for Charity. "The CMN and MSUCHI organizations goals are in line with our own", said Miller. "We are working to help kids more effectively battle disease and that includes ensuring that our community has the infrastructure and resources, including facilities, personnel and equipment, to support a patient in the fight of their lives".
BUFFALO SABRES TEAMMATES HONORED by The Women & Children's Hospital
May 3, 2007 - Buffalo Sabres teammates Ryan Miller, Toni Lydman
and Henrik Tallinder were honored by The Women & Children's Hospital of
Buffalo, New York with their annual Champions for Children Award. Citing the
recipients understanding of the difficulties children with chronic and
life-altering illnesses face the hospital was proud to claim them as true
champions - a person who fights for another or for a cause; a defender,
protector, supporter. Lydman, Miller and Tallinder invite children and their
families to watch Sabres games in a luxury suite at HSBC Arena. The
experience gives patients a break from their daily routines of treatments
and medication, surgeries and chemotherapies and gives them hope and
anticipation and the chance to just be hockey fans for a time.
