Grand Island, NY- Family and friends of 3-year-old Brayden Macri, who was diagnosed with leukemia, will be hosting a benefit in support of the toddler on Saturday, May 18, at the Grand Island VFW, 2121 Grand Island Blvd, Grand Island, NY, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Brayden Macri was diagnosed on July 24, 2012 with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Young Macri receives extensive treatments including chemotherapy, blood transfusions and bone marrow aspirations. The benefit will help offset some of the medical bills associated with Brayden’s treatment.

The benefit will include a live band and disc jockey, 50/50 split club tickets and basket raffles. There will be a kid zone area as well. Donation tickets are $20.00 each and they include food, soft drinks and adult beverages. Children under 10 are free.

Who: “Team Brayden” family, friends, loved ones and community

Catholic Charities of Buffalo will offer a naturalization workshop for those looking to become United States citizens on May 15 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 228 Albany St., Buffalo, the school site on the former Nativity Campus. Eligible candidates must be 18 years of age or older, have had a green card for at least four years and be able to read, write and speak basic English. Participants must bring: Green Cards for all family members; social security cards for each family member; two passport-sized photos of each applicant or $6 money order for each applicant to have photos taken; 2011 tax return and/or proof of Medicaid, food stamps or public assistance from the Department of Social Services or supplemental security income letter; list of all employment and addresses from the past five years; and list of all travel since becoming a permanent resident of the United States. Space is limited.

More than 25 National Grid executives and employees assisted Tifft Nature Preserve ecological technicians and staff employees in the planting of more than 115 new trees at Tifft Nature Preserve in efforts to replace invasive trees with ecologically friendly species. The day of tree planting is just one example of the commitment National Grid has in Western New York to be an environmentally responsible and good corporate citizen.

National Grid’s tree planting volunteerism was in conjunction with Tifft Nature Preserve’s tree regeneration project which is being funded by a $300,000 grant from the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee (GESC).  The Committee is affiliated with the Niagara River Greenways Fund, established by the New York Power Authority as part of the re-licensing of the Niagara Power Project.