(BUFFALO, N.Y.) – The F.A.T.H.E.R.S. group is teaming up with Mayor-elect Byron Brown, Baby Joe Mesi, Masten District Councilmember Antoine Thompson, and Rural/Metro Medical Services in kicking off the 5th Annual “Toys for Joy” toy drive.
Last year the drive collected enough gifts to ensure that 2000 children had something substantial to open on Christmas morning.

Commenting on the continued success of the toys for joy toy drive, Mayor-elect Byron Brown stated “I would like to commend the F.A.T.H.E.R.S. group and Rural/Metro Medical Services for organizing such an important program, but more importantly, I would like to thank the citizens of Buffalo for taking the time to help those who are less fortunate, once again proving why “Buffalo is The City of Good Neighbors”.

“This is our 5th year of hosting the kickoff of this outstanding event” said Rob Zachrich, General Manager of Rural/Metro Medical Services. “All of our more than 500 employees take a great deal of pride in making a difference in a child’s life at this time of the year”.

Leonard E. Lane, the president of F.A.T.H.E.R.S. says he can’t wait to distribute the toys at the party to be held on December 17th, 2005. “Every child deserves a toy at Christmas and we intend to see that all these children have just that” said Lane.

F.A.T.H.E.R.S. was formed in September of 2000 after two stray bullets crashed through two windows at School 61 Early Childhood Center at Leroy and Grider. Since that time the F.A.T.H.E.R.S. group has logged thousands of volunteer hours in and around the school to make it the safe haven it should be.

Rural/Metro, headquartered at 481 William L. Gaiter Parkway in Buffalo, New York, has satellite offices and ambulance bases in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, and Niagara Falls as well as several others locations throughout Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties. Their 520+ paramedics, EMT’s and support personnel are responsible for servicing 22 hospitals, more than 100 nursing homes and health care facilities, most major sporting and entertainment events in the region, as well as the one million residents who reside in Western New York.