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Marra to be honored by Empower

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Fri, Jun 8th 2018 07:55 pm
Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, will award Mike Marra the Neil and Mary Gruppo Service Award at its annual golf tournament on Monday, June 18, at the Niagara Frontier Country Club, 1058 Lake Road.
The award will be presented at the post-tournament dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased by phone at 716-297-0798, ext. 120, or online at http://empower-wny.org. Space is still available for golfers as well. Buffalo Sabres alum Darryl Shannon will be at the event and a suite for up to 18 people at a Buffalo Sabres home game during the 2018-19 home season, valued at $3,500, is among the items that will be auctioned off at the event.
Marra will receive this year's Neil and Mary Gruppo Service Award for his dedication and service to improving employment outcomes for people with developmental disabilities as Empower's job placement coordinator. In the 26 years that Marra has been in the position, he has helped 100 people with developmental disabilities get jobs in the community.
Marra also is a dedicated public servant, having been elected to serve as a Village of Lewiston trustee and Town of Lewiston councilman.
He lives in Lewiston with his wife, Laura, and is an active member of his church, St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Lewiston.
"Mike has contributed so much to Empower, people with developmental disabilities and to the Lewiston community," Empower CEO Jeff Paterson said. "Yet he avoids the spotlight and seeks no credit. His humility and genuine goodness are what we admire most in him."
With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York's 60 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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