Monsanto gives $2,500 to Hospice of Orleans

Provided photo – Hospice of Orleans accepted a $2,500 check on Saturday night from Monsanto. The following are pictured, from left: Jeff Cunningham, Monsanto’s Northeast business manager; Nyla Gaylord, Director of Development for Hospice; and Charles Mathes of the Mathes Farm in Holley.

MEDINA – For the second year in a row a local farmer has selected Hospice of Orleans to receive a $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, a Monsanto Fund.

Mathes Farms in Holley picked Hospice to be the $2,500 recipient. The check was presented on Saturday during the Hospice Beat the Winter Blues event at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.

“Hospice has helped a number of people in my family and I’m happy to help them,” said Charles Mathes as he and Jeff Cunningham presented the large ceremonial check.

Cunningham explained that the donation “is Monsanto’s way of supporting the local communities in which we sell seeds and other agricultural products to local farmers.”

Hospice of Orleans will use this gift to help fund costs associated with renovating a room at the main office for use by the bereavement group. Renovations will make the room look like a comfortable living room where there is ample space for group members to gather in an inviting atmosphere.

A sell-out crowd Beat the Winter Blues and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres from Zambistro Catering and improvisational jazz and blues by Doug Egling on winds and Mike Putman on guitars. A surprise guest, Kate Egling, sang some old blues tunes accompanied by Doug and Mike.

The group is known locally for their regular performances with jazz, blues, and jazz fusion bands at the Dinosaur Grill in Rochester and local events.

Kate Egling sings while joining Mike Putnam and Egling’s husband Doug during a performance Saturday at the winery on Ridge Road.

Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, represented by Darrel Oakes and his sister Wendy Oakes Wilson, served as hosts of the event and provided a first glass of Blanc d’Orleans wine for free. Since 2013, for every bottle of their white wine, Blanc d’Orleans sold, $1 goes to Hospice of Orleans.

According to Mary Anne Fischer, Hospice executive director, this first-time event was a sell-out and a huge success.

“We hope to hold a similar event next year,” Fischer said. “We are very grateful for the support of the community, for our entertainers, donors, caterers, and the Oakes family for their long-term support of Hospice of Orleans with their signature wine Blanc d’ Orleans.”