(RANSOMVILLE, NEW YORK) – The tradition continued in 2025.

In one of the most unique Labor-sponsored fundraisers in Western New York Union History, the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s 2025 Labor’s Night At The Races to benefit the United Way of Greater Niagara raised more than $23,000 - bringing the 16-year total of this annually held fundraiser to nearly $250,000.

“If you ‘would have asked me sixteen years ago, I would have been happy to make it through just one of these and make ($10,000), but this year we nearly tripled that amount,’” a proud Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President Jim Briggs told WNYLaborToday.com.

“This ‘all comes at such a trying time (for Organized Labor) and it is so amazing to me that even with everything that is going on with the leadership of this country (under Republican President Donald Trump), Organized Labor still stands up for the community we live and work in - and I hope to God people put political allegiance aside and stand up for Unions and for all they do,’” Briggs continued.

“It’s ‘our (Union) Affiliates that donate the money (that eventually goes to benefit a variety of youth programs connected with the United Way of Greater Niagara) and they are the reason why the United Way gets what they get.’ ‘They are the reason why we have raised so much over the years.’ ‘It would have looked so different without Labor getting involved and fundraising the way it does, and again - that’s all based on the strength of our Affiliates,’” Briggs said.

The $23,434.59 that was raised this Summer pushed the grand total for its 16-year run to nearly $249,000, United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Beth Pyskaty told WNYLaborToday.com.

“It’s been ‘such a good’ partnership (between the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council and its Affiliates and the United Way of Greater Niagara),” Pyskaty said. “And ‘it was a total team effort.’ Labor’s Affiliates ‘not only support this event with their money, but they pitch in and help at the event, all to benefit the youth in our communities.’”

Dollars raised at Labor’s Night At The Races goes to benefit 13 youth-oriented community programs that are funded by the United Way of Greater Niagara across this Western New York County, including - but not limited to, the Boy’s and Girl Scouts organizations, the Salvation Army, a Homeless Youth Program, a Down Syndrome Program offered in Lewiston, and an Educational Youth Program offered by the Aquarium of Niagara Falls.

Both Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President Briggs and Pyskaty made it a point to publicly thank the Apprentices and Members from both International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 and Ironworkers Local 9, who also donated their personal time to set up, distribute food and take down afterwards.

“They did a ‘fantastic’ job,” said Pyskaty, who was overseeing her first Labor’s Night at the Races event. “It was ‘great to see these young Union Members understand the value of what Unions offer to our community and participate in a way to give back to their community.’”

Briggs and Pyskaty also made it a point to single out those businesses and Friends of Labor who annually help support Labor’s Night at the Races, including its major sponsors: United Steelworkers (USW) District 4; Highmark/BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York; the Law Firm of Lewis & Lewis; the Law Firm of Maxwell and Murphy; and M&T Bank.

Photo College Courtesy Of The United Way Of Greater Niagara.