NEW ERA OFFERS COPP CAPS IN SUPPORT OF PATTY PARETE
Hats go on sale this weekend as community pulls together

Buffalo, NY (March 19, 2007) – New Era Cap Company joined today in support of wounded Buffalo Police Officer Patty Parete with the limited edition launch of COPP (Community Outreach for Patty Parete) caps.

The $15 dark blue caps with gold lettering will be offered for sale this weekend at Galleria Mall and March 31 at the Patty Parete Fundraiser at the Buffalo Convention Center. The mall sales table will be manned from noon until 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for the March 31 event are available through Topps and Wegmans stores.

“As a family-owned company that was started in Buffalo, we’re committed to supporting our community and those who work to keep it safe. Donating caps to this cause is our way of showing our appreciation and admiration to The Buffalo Police Department and Officers like Carl Andolina and Patty Parete who contribute to making the City of Buffalo a great place work, play and do business.” said Pete Augustine, President at New Era Cap Company, which moved its corporate headquarters from Derby to downtown Buffalo last year. New Era donated 1,000 caps in response to a request by Travers Collins & Company.

"Chris Koch and New Era have made significant contributions to Buffalo and our region," said Mayor Byron W. Brown. "But their support of Buffalo Police Officers Carl Andolina and Patty Parete demonstrates their overwhelming generosity and their support of the men and women of the Buffalo Police Department. I commend New Era for coming forward and displaying their excellent corporate citizenship by contributing to this very important effort to help Patty Parete."

Hundreds of people have already reached out to help. “The outpouring of support we see from the Western New York community is astounding. It’s amazing to see how so many different people and organizations have stood up for Patty,” said Andolina, chairman of the Patricia A Parete Fundraising Committee. “Patty has already proven how hard she is willing to fight for her recovery. There’s no way I can express how much community support means to us both.”

Parete and Andolina were shot in the line of duty on December 5, 2006 as they responded to a routine call in the City of Buffalo. Parete is still on a ventilator at the Kessler Center in New Jersey, but she's talking, eating, and in good spirits. She's working to regain mobility below her shoulders. Funds raised will go to the expenses of rebuilding her home and life.

“As we considered how we could help Patty, one of our associates suggested COPP caps, another created possible designs for Patty’s review, while others worked on the logistics. New Era responded immediately with a donation of 1,000 caps. We’re proud to live and work in a city where people pull together in this way,” said William Collins, principal with Travers Collins & Company.

Donations of auction items are still being sought for the March 31 fundraiser. For more information, call the event hotline at 851-4439.

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Contact: Judi Griggs
Travers Collins & Company
716 842-2222 Ext 363
716 604 4718


COVERAGE ALERT


WHAT : BRIEF PRESS CONFERENCE TO UNVEIL C.O.P.P. CAPS (COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR PATTY PARETE) DONATED BY NEW ERA.

WHEN: MONDAY, MARCH 19 AT 10 A.M.

WHERE: NEW ERA CAP COMPANY HEADQUARTERS
160 DELAWARE AVE

WHO: XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX, NEW ERA CAP CO.
MAYOR BYRON BROWN
OFFICER CARL ANDOLINA, CHAIRMAN OF PATRICIA A. PARETE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
WILLIAM COLLINS, TRAVERS COLLINS & COMPANY