NYAA fundraiser collects $3,436 for West Webster firefighters

Fishers, N.Y. – New York state apple fans have donated a generous $3,436 to the West Webster Volunteer Firemen’s Association, through a fundraiser organized by New York Apple Association (NYAA).

NYAA arranged the fundraiser for the firemen’s association as part of NYAA’s sponsorship of this year’s ING New York City Marathon. NYAA President Jim Allen, a Webster resident, chose the group after the fire department suffered tragedy on Christmas Eve last year when two firefighters were killed and two were injured in an ambush.

“Our industry has so much to be thankful for this year, we’re glad to have this opportunity to give back to our community this way,” said NYAA’s Allen. New York state apples returned to local markets in force this fall after a banner harvest; the industry had been devastated by bad weather in 2012.

New York apple fans also donated $1,565 to Feeding America through NYAA’s marathon fundraiser. Feeding America’s member food banks in New York state and other affected areas helped feed victims of Hurricane Sandy after its storm surge hit here on Oct. 29. NYAA provided over 200,000 apples to support that effort.

For more information about these donations, visit NYAA’s Crowdrise marathon fundraising page at http://www.crowdrise.com/applecountrynycmarathon. NYAA has been a sponsor of the marathon since 1998; McIntosh, New York state’s leading variety, is the marathon’s official apple.