Honor Buffalo Wing Festival

Senate Resolution No. 3234 BY: Senator KENNEDY CELEBRATING the National Buffalo Wing Festival in October of 2020 WHEREAS, Each and every city, town, village, and hamlet within its borders proudly resonates with the rich and noble history of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those events which foster civic pride and highlight the contributions of the communities which comprise the noble body of this great Empire State to the progression and development of our society; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the National Buffalo Wing Festival in October of 2020; and WHEREAS, Since its establishment in 2002, Wingfest has attracted more than one million visitors from all 50 states, more than three dozen countries and every continent to downtown Buffalo, New York; and WHEREAS, Today, Wingfest remains true to its mission of celebrating one of America's favorite foods in its birthplace, elevating the profile of the best wing restaurants from across the United States which converge on the festival and raising money for charity; and WHEREAS, Throughout the last 19 years, Wingfest has donated nearly $400,000 to FeedMore WNY (formerly the Food Bank of Western New York and Meals on Wheels of Western New York) and other charitable organizations; and WHEREAS, For 2020, festival founder Drew Cerza has announced Wingfest will be pivoting away from the Buffalo Festival out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic and into a new national program which will continue fulfilling its goal of promoting the best wing restaurants nationwide and raising money for charity; and WHEREAS, This year, due to the pandemic, Buffalo's signature culinary celebration will take place across the United States in the form of "America's Greatest Chicken Wing Party," which will take place in October 2020, which is National Chicken Wing Month; and WHEREAS, During National Chicken Wing Month, wing eaters from 50 major cities will be invited to join in the annual celebration of the Buffalo wing by organizing their "Greatest Chicken Wing Party" they have ever hosted; these parties can be held at home, a park, restaurant, or wherever social distancing regulations allow them; and WHEREAS, Groups and individuals will be encouraged to join by supporting their favorite local wingery as well as putting together a donation to help feed the hungry in their community; and WHEREAS, The parties will also help maintain the Wingfest's charitable mission and serve as a benefit for local food banks in each respective host city, which are dealing with substantially increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those events which enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate the National Buffalo Wing Festival in October of 2020; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Drew Cerza, Founder, National Buffalo Wing Festival.