The funds will be used for the campaign to distribute the “Play Packs,” each containing a jump rope, exercise band, frisbee, pedometer, playground ball and several other small items, to kids across western New York. Including this latest donation, Perry’s has given $150,000 to the Buffalo Sabres Foundation since 2008 from the sales of its co-branded Sabres flavors, the organizations noted.

A small group of Perry’s Ice Cream employees assisted Victory Sports with assembling the packs at the Victory Sports warehouse in Clarence this on Nov. 19.

“There is a gap in opportunities for young people to be active and participate in sports, especially given the current circumstances,” said Robert Denning, president and CEO of Perry’s Ice Cream. “Perry’s selected Victory Sports as the recipient of our Let’s Dough Buffalo! donation because we believe in their mission and ability to make a direct connection with families to encourage active

play. We are honored to partner with Victory Sports and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation to bring more of Perry’s ‘good stuff’ to our WNY community.”

Rich Jureller, president of the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, said the foundation and Perry’s Ice Cream have a long tradition of working together to serve that community.

“We are very proud to continue that effort through the donation of 1,000 Play Packs to Victory Sports,” he said. “This initiative will provide meaningful opportunities for many kids to participate in sports and play, which is even more important during these challenge times.”

Project Play WNY and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation first created the ‘Play Packs’ this summer and helped local organizations distribute thousands of packs. As many families face a holiday season blighted by the pandemic, they need as much help as possible to enable kids to play and be physically active.

“We aim to provide the equipment that organizations and families need to help their kids play sports, have fun and develop as young people,” said Doug Rifenburg, founder and executive director of Victory Sports. “Partnering with such a recognizable and much-loved ice-cream company such as Perry’s and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation is huge for us and demonstrates great belief in our mission to change lives through sports and play.”

Victory Sports will partner with after-school programs and mobile food pantries in disadvantaged and low-income communities in Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming County to distribute the packs between Nov. 23 and Dec. 4, the organizations said. For more information about this campaign and other community projects, or to donate to Victory Sports, visit www.victorysports.org.