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WNY Heroes co-founder Chris Kreiger (second from right) stands with the Howard Hanna team.
WNY Heroes co-founder Chris Kreiger (second from right) stands with the Howard Hanna team.

Howard Hanna donates to WNY Heroes

Sat, Jun 16th 2018 07:00 am
For the fifth year in a row, the Lewiston Howard Hanna branch (formerly RealtyUSA) has raised funds for WNY Heroes.
On Tuesday, Howard Hanna staff members gathered together to present a check to WNY Heroes co-founder Chris Kreiger and his service dog, Bubba. The money was collected during a basket auction held in May.
Thanks to the support of the public, and the initiative of the real estate agents, $1,250 was donated to WNY Heroes.
WNY Heroes is an organization that provides veterans, members of the armed services, and the widows and children of deceased veterans with access to essential services, financial assistance and other resources to help these individuals improve their lives and maintain their dignity.
Kreiger, an Iraq war veteran, helped establish WNY Heroes in 2007. Today, the organization coordinates several successful grant programs with the help of volunteers and the support of entities such as Howard Hanna.
Programs include "Bridging Hearts," which helps veterans and their families with financial assistance and covers up to three months of past-due mortgage, rent and utilities; "Pawsitive for Heroes," a service dog program that was created in 2014 to help returning veterans with PTSD, anxiety and hyper-vigilance; "WNY Kids are Heroes Too," which helps veterans provide their children with the ability to participate in a wide array of extracurricular activities in their community; "Adopt-A-Veteran Family," a seasonal grant that helps during stressful holiday seasons through the use of local donations and sponsorships; a backpack drive that provides backpacks filled with essential school supplies; academic scholarships allow veterans to apply for a scholarship to help complete their college education after their GI Bill has been exhausted or no longer is available; and "Operation B.O.O.T.S." ("Battle Buddies On Our Troop Side"), which brings veterans and their families together in a casual, safe, nonclinical, fun environment, which fosters teamwork and friendships.
WNY Heroes co-founder Chris Kreiger and Bubba pose with Howard Hanna's Gina Gigliotti. She is a U.S. Army Reserves veteran.

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