Delaware North and the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 3 hosted a fundraiser for Westminster Economic Development Initiative (WEDI), a nonprofit organization that runs the West Side Bazaar in Buffalo.
The bazaar, which is home to 11 New American restaurateurs and artisans in the city of Buffalo, recently closed because of a fire in late September. Attendees enjoyed meeting restaurateurs and watching them prepare dishes live on-site while sampling tastes from around the world.
Katie Gorman, Delaware North’s director of corporate social responsibility and strategic initiatives, initiated and organized the event, and Delaware North associates volunteered at the event so WEDI employees could attend as guests.
“After learning of the fire, we began thinking of ways we could help the Bazaar restaurateurs and artisans through this challenge and came up with this showcase of their great culinary offerings,” said Jamie Obletz, president of Delaware North Sportservice. “We are proud to partner with the Buffalo Sabres to host the Taste of the West Side Bazaar in our kitchen space and the Lexus Club at KeyBank Center.”
The event raised $24,000, which will allow WEDI to assist business owners to find new venues, negotiate leases, build business plans, purchase inventory and supplies, and outfit new spaces with the specialty equipment their cuisines require, like commercial woks and steamers.
“When Delaware North and the Sabres offered to co-host this event, we were thrilled and grateful,” said WEDI Executive Director Carolynn Welch. “WEDI is working tirelessly to help the small business owners affected by the fire. They are determined to recover and reopen their businesses which are vital to their families’ economic security and to the cultural life of our city. To have such prominent organizations champion our organization and the Bazaar is incredible.”