LaBella in the Community (LINC) – Fall 2024 Roundup
LaBella in the Community (LINC) is our employee-led, grassroots, committee-based service program that organizes volunteer opportunities to build and advance community partnerships. LINC was very busy this fall, and we’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the activities the group planned and coordinated throughout the local communities where we live and work.
More details about the organizations that LINC partnered with can be found by clicking the links below. To learn more about what LINC has been up to, keep scrolling!
Women Build Day
Organization: Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity
Event Date: September 6, 2024
Event Location: Beechwood Neighborhood—Rochester, NY
Event Description: Habitat for Humanity’s annual Women Build program empowers women to help construct safe, affordable housing for families in need. Since 1991, Women Build volunteers from diverse backgrounds have joined forces to create stronger, safer communities.
This year, our team of volunteers—Mary Steblein, Sara LoBello, Brian Ringenwald, Chris Mierzejewski, and Jen Gillen—contributed to the construction of the 20th Habitat home built through the Women Build initiative in Rochester.
AIDS Ride for Life
Organization: Southern Tier AIDS Program
Event Date: September 7, 2024
Event Location: Steward Park—Ithaca, NY
Event Description: Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS services in New York’s Southern Tier, striving for a world where HIV transmission is rare and those who are HIV+ lead healthy lives.
In early September, STAP held its 26th annual AIDS Ride for Life, a cycling fundraiser to support its mission and raise community awareness. Cyclists from across the region gathered at Stewart Park in Ithaca, NY, to ride around Cayuga Lake, supported by volunteers, pitstops, vehicle safety teams, and bike repair technicians. This year marked Matt McCarty’s 11th time participating in the event, joined by his family.
Proceeds from the event—totaling $145,081 this year—fund vital services, including support for those living with HIV/AIDS, individuals managing multiple chronic illnesses, LGBTQ+ youth at the Identity Youth Center, and participants in the Syringe Exchange program.
“Let’s Roll” 24th Annual 9/11 Tribute Ride
Organization: Operation Patriot Foundation
Event Date: September 8, 2024
Event Location: Ontario Beach Park—Rochester, NY
Event Description: The annual “Let’s Roll!” 9/11 Tribute at Ontario Beach Park is named in honor of Todd M. Beamer, a University of Rochester alum, and his brave last words on United Flight 93. The event pays tribute to first responders and military heroes of September 11, 2001, and raises funds for local causes
This year’s motorcycle-only event, one of the largest parade-style rides in New York State, drew approximately 250-300 motorcycles for a 50+ mile ride to Brockport and back. Local police, fire departments, military personnel, and the Patriot Guard Riders escorted the ride, shutting down roads and intersections to ensure a safe journey. The community lined the streets, waving flags as the motorcycles roared past.
After the ride, participants gathered for a ceremony featuring vendors, food, and music. Proceeds from the event—totaling $24,000—were donated to the Crime Stoppers K9 Initiative, which supports nearly 30 local K9s by funding new puppies, emergency veterinary care, and upgrades to K9 training obstacle courses.
Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Organization: Rochester Press-Radio Club
Event Date: September 9, 2024
Event Location: Salmon Creek Country Club—Spencerport, NY
Event Description: In early September, several LaBellans took part in the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, benefiting the Rochester Press-Radio Children’s Charities Fund. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting children and families in Rochester, NY, and the surrounding areas through fundraising, volunteering, and community involvement.
The event brought together a diverse group of volunteers and community members, all committed to making a difference. LaBella’s team participated to show their support for the cause, enjoying a day on the course while helping raise much-needed funds to support initiatives that make a lasting, positive impact on the youth in the region.
Little Eric’s Big Game Night
Organization: Little Eric’s Foundation
Event Date: September 21, 2024
Event Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Event Description: On September 21, 2024, Little Eric’s Foundation hosted its 9th annual Little Eric’s Big Game Night at the Holiday Inn East Mountain in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The casino-themed event featured roulette, blackjack, poker, craps, horse racing, food stations, and raffle prizes, all in support of pediatric cancer research and local families.
Little Eric’s Foundation is named in memory of Eric Speicher, Jr., who passed away at 14 after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with ependymoma, a rare brain tumor. The organization is dedicated to funding pediatric brain and childhood cancer research, raising awareness, and supporting local families with children currently enduring their own cancer journey. To date, Little Eric’s Foundation has donated over $400,000 to pediatric cancer research and provided financial assistance to 41 local children.
Blue Jean Ball
Organization: Homesteads for Hope
Event Date: September 27, 2024
Event Location: Rochester, NY
Event Description: Homesteads for Hope is New York State’s first working farm and housing community for people with disabilities. The farm provides skills training, socialization, career exploration, and personal growth through hands-on agricultural experiences. The organization is dedicated to creating an inclusive community where individuals with disabilities and other disadvantages can thrive and find purpose.
Each year, the Blue Jean Ball fundraiser brings together community members to support the farm. This year’s event raised over $100,000 with the help of 40+ sponsors and 360 guests. The event featured live music, food trucks, auctions, a photo booth, and activities like mechanical bull rides, RTV rides, and goat feeding. LaBella was proud to attend and support Homesteads for Hope’s mission to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Barktoberfest 2024
Organization: Lollypop Farm
Event Date: September 28, 2024
Event Location: Lollypop Farm—Fairport, NY
Event Description: Barktoberfest is Lollypop Farm’s 2nd-largest fundraiser, dedicated to supporting vital services and programs for homeless and abused pets in the community. The event includes fun contests, exciting activities, food vendors, and the Walk for the Animals, which raises funds to provide care for thousands of animals each year.
This year, a group of LaBellans—Meg Yoshida, Steve Metzger, Lindsay Davis, Kelly Sweet, Catherine Thompson, Danielle Lewis, Michelle Sellers, and Sarah Leicht—participated in the family-friendly walk around Lollypop Farm’s campus with their canine companions, helping to support vulnerable pets in the Rochester area.
Edison Tech Architecture Program at LaBella
Organization: Edison Career & Technology High School
Event Date: October to December 2024
Event Location: LaBella’s Rochester, NY Headquarters
Event Description: This fall, LaBella collaborated with Edison Career & Technology High School in Rochester, NY, to host a four-session workshop for students in the school’s architecture class, using A/E/C curriculum with real-world applications. Three students participated in the workshop, where they designed a museum under the guidance of LaBella’s team—Barbara Burke, Walter Kaniecki, Carlos Torres, and Susan Wylie—who also developed the curriculum and presented each class.
The first class introduced LaBella to the students and outlined the museum project assignment and presentation guidelines. Students brought their museum research and inspiration images to the second class, during which the LaBella team guided discussions on programming, bubble diagrams, site selection, and which type of museum the students would like to design.
For the third class, the students created sketches addressing public/private access, site interaction, entry sequence, and circulation/flow. Our team worked closely with the students to translate these ideas into floor plans and an exhibit vignette showcasing interactive features, finishes, and lighting design.
In the final class, the students presented their designs and renderings of the museums they had developed. Pictured at right, Edison Tech student Leo presents his design to the group of LaBella employees.
Archtober Newburgh 2024
Organization: The Fullerton
Event Date: October 4-6, 2024, plus October 12, 2024
Event Location: Newburgh, NY
Event Description: Hosted by The Fullerton and other collaborators, Archtober Newburgh 2024 is an annual festival featuring over 20 free programs celebrating architecture, preservation, and design in historic Newburgh, NY. This event invites residents and visitors to explore the city’s cultural treasures through walking tours, scavenger hunts, workshops, and more, while engaging with local architects, historians, and community leaders.
This year’s festival highlights Newburgh’s rich architectural heritage, encourages community involvement in preservation efforts, and showcases creative collaborations that honor Newburgh’s vibrant history and culture. Matt Tether, Senior Project Manager at LaBella, contributed by presenting the concept of “Chess Parks” to the community.
CANstruction Rochester
Organization: Canstruction Rochester
Event Date: October 13, 2024
Event Location: Strong National Museum of Play – Rochester, NY
Event Description: CANstruction is a global nonprofit organization that addresses hunger globally. CANstruction Rochester is an annual exhibit and design competition that brings AEC professionals together to create structures built entirely out of canned goods. After closing the exhibit, all canned goods and food items are donated to Foodlink, a Rochester-based nonprofit organization that distributes food to local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, the elderly, and daycare centers.
For the 15th year in a row, LaBella’s Rochester office participated in the CANstruction Rochester competition, donating over 3,500 canned food items to Foodlink! The 2024 theme, PumpCANS, Witches, and Ghostly Goods, inspired an amazing array of Halloween-themed sculptures.
LaBella’s team—Lindsay Davis, Neil Ficurilli, Nick Harkola, Walter Kaniecki, Kathleen Keady, Calvin Leung, Camille Cosmiano, Aika Aussicker, Ian Luhmann, Justin Petsos, and Brian Sullivan—drew inspiration from the classic Halloween movie Beetlejuice. They worked diligently to design and build the infamous sandworm—or should we say CANworm—from 3,500 cans of beans, corn, and tomatoes.
Read more about this event here
14th Annual Doug Phelps BCCR Bowling Tournament
Organization: Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
Event Date: October 19, 2024
Event Location: Rochester, NY
Event Description: The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester (BCCR) is a community-based grassroots organization committed to providing support, advocacy, research, and education. BCCR’s mission is to foster a sense of community among individuals touched by breast or gynecologic cancer, empower informed decision-making through education and advocacy, and advance research in the region with the ultimate goal of eradicating breast cancer.
Held in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this year marked the 14th annual Doug Phelps Bowling Tournament, an event that aims to “strike out breast cancer” by raising funds for BCCR. For the first time, a team from LaBella—Lisa Beadle, Ross Aronson, Carla Valdez-Jemio, and Brian Sullivan—joined the event. The team enjoyed two games of bowling, food, drinks, and exciting raffles, all while supporting this important cause.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Rochester’s Finest Celebration
Organization: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Western New York Chapter
Event Date: October 24, 2024
Event Location: Rochester, NY
Event Description: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Western New York Chapter is committed to improving the lives of children and adults living with cystic fibrosis while also recognizing outstanding young leaders in the Greater Rochester area.
The Rochester’s Finest honorees represent the region’s most accomplished and innovative young professionals in the area, each of whom harnessed their creativity, passion, and competitive spirit to raise funds and awareness leading up to the October celebration. These honorees exemplify leadership, community engagement, and business success, making them some of the region’s most prominent and influential young professionals.
Photo Credit: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Western New York Chapter
Adopt-A-Highway
Organization: New York State Department of Transportation
Event Date: October 26, 2024
Event Location: Rochester, NY
Event Description: As part of the New York State Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program, LaBella has adopted a section of Interstate 490 (that our firm designed).
Each year, volunteers spend several hours on a Saturday morning assisting in roadway cleanup. On this day, our team of volunteers was comprised of Oliver Sugarman, Brian Ringenwald, Steve Metzger, Walter Kaniecki, Carla Valdez-Jemio, and Jen Wildrick.
Casino Night Fundraiser
Organization: Webster Comfort Care Home
Event Date: November 1, 2024
Event Location: The Lodge at Shadow Hill—Ontario, NY
Event Description: Webster Comfort Care Home is a nonprofit, community-based facility that provides hospice-based care to residents while being a source of respite care for the families. The home operates free of charge, relying entirely on the generosity of the community, donations, volunteers, and special events to continue its mission.
The Casino Night fundraiser, one of many held throughout the year, gave the community an opportunity to support Webster Comfort Care Home’s mission to uphold the dignity and ease the suffering of its residents while providing a warm, home-like atmosphere for both the residents and their loved ones.
Pitchin’ for Wishes Cornhole Tournament
Organization: Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina
Event Date: November 2, 2024
Event Location: Freedom Park—Charlotte, NC
Event Description: In early November, the 16th annual Pitchin’ for Wishes Cornhole Tournament, organized by the Roby Family of Companies and Harris Teeter, brought together local businesses and community members to raise funds and awareness for Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina.
The event featured an exciting NCAA bracket-style cornhole competition, along with food, drinks, music, local mascot appearances, and kids’ activities. Among the participants were LaBella team members Robert Steen, Dan Hill, Sean Kuerzdoerfer, Bryan Fike, and Kelechi Nwaokorie, who joined in the fun to support this great cause.
Thanks to the generosity of participants, sponsors, and donors, this year’s event raised enough to grant the wishes of 30 local children with critical illnesses. These wishes will have a lasting impact not only on the children but also on their families, communities, and the many volunteers who help make these dreams come true.
Adopt–A–Stream Cleanup
Organization: City of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County
Event Date: November 7, 2024
Event Location: Charlotte, NC
Event Description: As part of the City of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County’s Adopt-A-Stream program, LaBella has taken ownership of a half-mile segment of the Dairy Branch Stream, located just off Ideal Way to Magnolia Avenue in Charlotte, NC. This initiative allows us to take ownership of our surroundings and offers a great opportunity in environmental stewardship.
Twice a year, in the spring and the fall, we support the community by removing litter to clean the stream and banks. We also test the water, observe stream quality, and report our findings back to the City and the County to help maintain the health of this vital waterway.
Our team of volunteers for this cleanup included Juliana Barbaccia, Janel Daley, Christine Fink, Connor Haydon, Zachary Jordan, Tilo Krulle, Scott Markle, Tanya Mcgee, Kieran Merritt, Abigail Rodgers, Miller Snyder, Robert Steen, Robert Wilson, and Augustine Wong.
Ultimate 80s Prom Party
Organization: Rochester Hearing & Speech Center
Event Date: November 9, 2024
Event Location: Harro East Ballroom—Rochester, NY
Event Description: Rochester Hearing & Speech Center’s Ultimate 80s Party is the organization’s major annual fundraiser, and this year’s event embraced a fun “Prom Night” theme. Guests enjoyed a memorable evening filled with food, drinks, live music, dancing, and both live and silent auctions—bringing the best of the ‘80s back to life.
The night featured a live performance by the ‘80s tribute band Hall Pass, with celebrity auctioneer Joe Lomonaco and special guest emcees Scott Spezzano and Sandy Waters energizing the crowd. Guest DJ Michael Mendoza spun all the greatest hits from the iconic decade, keeping everyone dancing all night.
All proceeds from the event support Rochester Hearing & Speech Center’s ongoing efforts to serve the community.
Hoof-It for Heroes
Organization: EquiCenter
Event Date: November 10, 2024
Event Location: Honeoye Falls, NY
Event Description: Hoof-It for Heroes is a 2.2-mile challenge aimed at raising awareness of the 22 veterans and active military members who die by suicide each day. This year’s challenge kicked off on November 10 with an in-person 2.2-mile walk/run at EquiCenter, located on a 200-acre property at the William and Mildred Levine Ranch, and continued virtually for 22 days, ending on December 2. LaBella employees—Sheharyar Bashir, Lisa Currier, Caroline Wheadon, Timothy Darling, and Chelsey Barry—participated in the in-person event, walking 2.2 miles along EquiCenter’s scenic trails.
EquiCenter is a nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic equestrian and horticulture programs for individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and veterans. Accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH). EquiCenter serves over 190 participants weekly with a diverse range of programs, including adaptive riding, therapeutic horticulture, and equine-based education. 100% of the proceeds from Hoof-It for Heroes go directly to support the organization’s veteran programs.
45th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
Organization: Concerned for the Hungry
Event Date: November 16-25, 2024
Event Location: Schenectady, NY
Event Description: This November, Concerned for the Hungry held its 45th Annual Thanksgiving Food, distributing over 2,240 baskets filled with Thanksgiving meal essentials and additional food to families in Schenectady County, NY. A group of LaBellans—Kelsey Carr (and family), Roger Keating (and family), and Vinkel Rasmussen—joined the effort, helping to pack and distribute the baskets.
Concerned for the Hungry, founded in 1979 by a small group of individuals who recognized the growing need for emergency food, is a nonprofit organization committed to fighting hunger in Schenectady County. Today, it remains a leading provider of essential food services, powered entirely by the efforts of its dedicated volunteers.
SBC Cares 2024 Thanksgiving Appeal
Organization: Small Business Council of Rochester
Event Date: November 22-23, 2024
Event Location: Rochester, NY
Event Description: Each year, our Rochester offices participate in the Small Business Council (SBC) Cares Thanksgiving Appeal, a program that provides Thanksgiving food boxes to families in need throughout the Rochester region. Held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the initiative unites participating companies to deliver food boxes and cash donations to a central location.
This year, SBC set a goal to assist over 4,000 local families. Through a Venmo donation drive, LaBella employees raised $1,500—enough to provide 30 Thanksgiving meals to families in the region.
An affiliate of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, SBC supports the local business community through programs that foster personal and professional growth for business leaders and their organizations. This impactful work is driven by a team of dedicated volunteers committed to creating positive change.
2024 Trees of Hope Raffle
Organization: Building on Love
Event Date: October 2024
Event Location: Ballston Spa, NY
Event Description: This holiday season, LaBellans at our Ballston Spa office participated in Building on Love’s Tree of Hope Raffle, a holiday tree auction benefiting local families caring for children with life-altering diagnoses such as cancer. Each uniquely decorated artificial tree included over $500 in gifts and/or gift cards.
Our Saratoga-themed tree—decorated by Amanda Hens, Sierra Vaverchak, Debra Gelinas, Donica Anderson, Jutta Farrell-Gerasia, and Shirley Sullivan—featured gift cards to local favorites, including The Merc, Thirsty Owl, Saratoga Tea & Honey, and Complexions Spa, along with tickets to the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Building on Love provides critical financial assistance to families during medical crises, covering essential non-medical expenses like rent, auto costs, and other living essentials. The organization’s goal is to ensure families can focus on their child’s health without the burden of financial instability.
Hurricane Disaster Relief
Organizations: BeLoved Asheville, MANNA FoodBank, River Arts District Artists, and Pisgah Legal
Event Date: Fall 2024
Event Location: Asheville, NC
Event Description: Following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene in the southeastern U.S., LaBellans came together to raise $3,200 through a fundraising drive to support recovery efforts, assist our Asheville team, and aid their community. The funds were equally distributed among four organizations, selected for their vital recovery work and strong ties to LaBella and its employees.
BeLoved Asheville is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving well-being and quality of life through initiatives centered around home, health, equity, and opportunity.
MANNA FoodBank operates a network of over 200 partner agencies, staff, and volunteers who work to unite and educate the community in the fight to end hunger in Western North Carolina. The organization is playing a key role in recovery efforts by providing food resources to those most in need.
The River Arts District in Asheville, home to hundreds of artists, faced unprecedented destruction due to historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Funds will support rebuilding studios and buildings, as well as replacing art supplies and equipment lost to the storm. Pisgah Legal provides free legal aid and is offering FEMA application clinics to assist the community in navigating disaster relief resources.
