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Chris Granholm, general manager, Fuccillo Chevrolet of Grand Island, presents a check for $21,600 to Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director, Buffalo City Mission, Tuesday as part of the Fuccillo Statewide October Event. Money from new or pre-owned vehicle purchases at Fuccillo dealerships went toward local domestic violence support services. (Photo by Larry Austin)
Chris Granholm, general manager, Fuccillo Chevrolet of Grand Island, presents a check for $21,600 to Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director, Buffalo City Mission, Tuesday as part of the Fuccillo Statewide October Event. Money from new or pre-owned vehicle purchases at Fuccillo dealerships went toward local domestic violence support services. (Photo by Larry Austin)

Fuccillo donates $21,600 to Buffalo City Mission

Mon, Nov 16th 2015 12:30 pm

Huge donation supports victims of domestic violence

By Larry Austin

Island Dispatch Editor

Fuccillo Automotive Group, which has three of its 23 dealerships located on Grand Island at Alvin Road, presented a check for $21,600 to the Buffalo City Mission to combat domestic violence in the community.

Fuccillo donated $100 for every new or pre-owned vehicle that was purchased or leased during October as part of the Fuccillo Statewide October Event. In total, the company raised $218,000 in support of domestic violence awareness. The money went to a local domestic violence relief organization in each dealership's market.

Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director with the Buffalo City Mission, accepted the donation Tuesday from Chris Granholm, general manager, Fuccillo Chevrolet of Grand Island.

Calhoun said the Buffalo City Mission works with individuals struggling with homelessness and poverty, which are sometimes the result of domestic violence. Over a third of the women and children who come through the mission's Cornerstone Manor shelter struggle with domestic violence, Calhoun noted. The Fuccillo donation will go to enhance educational programs and counseling that "can get them back on the road to self-sufficiency," she said.

Fuccillo Automotive Group is the largest automobile dealership in New York state and is owned by Billy Fuccillo, who "loves to give back," said Granholm at a check presentation Tuesday at the Toyota dealership. It was the second year in a row the company and its 1,600 employees had supported the domestic violence program.

Calhoun thanked Fuccillo for the donation and for choosing the Buffalo City Mission of Western New York as their charity of choice. Fuccillo's donation is vital for those who struggle through domestic violence, "especially through the holiday season when a lot of them need that encouraging word and that outlet to come to a safe environment and know that they will be safe and protected," Calhoun said.

Other domestic violence awareness organizations that are beneficiaries of Fuccillo's donations include Equinox in Albany, Sojourner House at PathStone in Rochester, Vera House in Syracuse and the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County Inc. in Watertown.

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