It’s hard to imagine the Ride for Roswell without the M&T Bank start and finish lines towering over the University at Buffalo’s North Campus. They are such an iconic part of Ride Day – and the feeling of crossing beneath them while riding with your friends and family to end cancer is unlike any other.
But in 2011, there were no M&T start or finish lines or volunteers in the hundreds cheering and ringing cowbells. It was just six employees, organized by Ann Marie Hulbert, doing their part in the fight against cancer. They fundraised what they could and tied a banner to a tree, according to Tim McMorrow, Group Vice President at M&T Bank and one of those six people.
Fast forward to 2019, when 189 of the company’s very own crossed the finish line on June 22. And with more than 200 volunteers, M&T Bank raised more than $120,000 for patients at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Participating in some capacity at the Ride is something that many M&T Bank employees look forward to each year. And it all stems from community.
“We have a saying: ‘When a community succeeds, we all succeed,’” Tim said. “Bringing together our community for the greater good is really important to everyone here. And [the Ride] brought all of that together.
“My wife was a patient at Roswell Park for over three years. When we were going there regularly and I was in the lobby, I’d run into employees from M&T. It just goes to show you how Roswell touches our community at the bank.”
Katie Coyle, Assistant Vice President at M&T Bank, agrees.
“Everyone has someone that’s been to Roswell. I took an Uber from the airport back into Buffalo, and the driver was talking to me about Roswell. Every aspect of my life has a connection to Roswell – both professionally and personally.”
Think Globally, Act Locally
It’s no small task organizing M&T Bank’s participation in the Ride, but it’s something that Tim and Katie do with pride and love.
“I [always] go back to the story of how it all started and where we’ve grown,” Tim said. “It’s really a small core that brings us all together. And it always makes me feel happy.”
Katie also loves how it brings everyone together.
“During Ride Weekend, I see people from around the bank that I only see there – it’s a time to catch up. It brings us all closer in our internal and external communities.”
Participating in the Ride means so much to so many M&T Bank employees. Here are just a few people they ride for.
We couldn’t imagine the Ride without M&T Bank and all their employees. Thank you for making the Ride Weekend experience so special!
