STACHOWSKI BILL TO RAISE LIMITS ON CHARITABLE PRIZES PASSES SENATE: Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association & Many Non-Profits To Benefit

June 16, 2010

Senator William Stachowski (D, Lake View) today announced the New York State Senate has passed legislation (S.7801) he sponsored to allow the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association and other not-for-profits to increase their charitable contributions by raising the value of prizes that can be awarded. Recently, hockey greats Larry Playfair, Rob Ray and Bobby Nystrom joined Senator Stachowski in Albany to call for this change in the law.

“I am very pleased that this legislation was passed by the Senate today,” said Senator Stachowski.  “Many wonderful charities are feeling the effects of these difficult economic times.  We are trying to do everything we can to help these great organizations like the Sabres Alumni Association operate because they have such an important impact on our local communities.  This bill will allow the Sabres and other valuable non-profits to take in more charitable contributions and use them for countless worthy causes.” 

In 2007, the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association began conducting a 50/50 raffle at each Sabres home game.  The proceeds from the raffle are dedicated to offsetting the cost of operating Buffalo Junior Sabres, the Alumni Association scholarship program for youth, and providing donations to many regional not-for-profits including Roswell Park Research Institute and St Mary’s Hospital.  Since its inception, the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association has raised over $600,000 that has been donated to local charities.

Current General Municipal Law states that a not-for-profit cannot award more than a total of $100,000 in prize money that it raises between all of its individual raffles over a set period of time.  However, due to their immense popularity, the Sabres Alumni Associations’ raffles regularly exceed this cumulative $100,000 prize amount.  The Stachowski bill removes this prize cap and ultimately provides additional monies to charitable institutions located throughout Western New York and the entire state.

The bill was sent to the Assembly where Assemblyman Sam Hoyt  (Buffalo) and Assemblywoman Jane Corwin (Clarence) are sponsoring the bill.