Nanulas to head Light the Night Walks
Fundraiser will support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Western New York and Finger Lakes Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced that Paul and Karen Nanula will serve as general chairmen of the local chapter's annual Light The Night Walks. The evening walks will take place on Friday, Sept. 28, at a new location in Rochester, Monroe Community College, Brighton Campus and Friday, Oct. 5, at Delaware Park in Buffalo.

"My wife, Karen, and I are honored to chair the Light The Night Walks in Buffalo and in Rochester for the second year," said Paul, president and CEO of Wilson Farms. "At Wilson Farms, it's important for us to play an active role in making our community a better place. We are all touched by leukemia or lymphoma in some way - whether its a family member, a friend or one of our associates or a customer, this tragic disease affects the lives of many, and we are happy to help raise the needed funds to support research into curing blood cancers."

The Nanula's and Wilson Farms play an active role in the community, supporting many organizations throughout New York State. Over the past year, Wilson Farms has supported countless community organizations and charitable programs, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Check Out Hunger, Meals on Wheels, Hospice Foundations and, last fall, Wilson Farms raised funds for Hurricane Katrina Relief. Last year, Wilson Farms and their customers and associates raised more than $140,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk. Overall, since June 2006, Wilson Farms and their generous customers have helped raise more than $500,000 for charitable organizations.

In June 2005, Wilson Farms stores once again became a hometown company, with its headquarters in Williamsville. The Clarence-based acquisition team Wilson Farms Inc. purchased Wilson Farms from Tops Markets LLC, a division of Ahold USA. Tops Markets owned Wilson Farms from 1969 until 2005, when they sold the convenience store chain as part of an overall strategy to focus exclusively on traditional supermarkets. When purchasing Wilson Farms in 2005, one of Nanula's goals was to support local organizations that help the community.

Before his company purchased Wilson Farms, Paul Nanula held high-level positions at Tops Markets for more than 22 years. He also served as president of Granite Investment Services, LLC (a financial advisory firm) and president of Nanco Enterprises, Inc., a Western New York-based commercial and industrial park operator and land developer. Currently, Nanula is also a principal partner in Essex Homes of WNY, Inc.

Karen Nanula graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management with honors in 1983. Before leaving the industry to pursue a full-time career as a mother, Karen was an assistant vice president with Goldome Realty Credit Corp. as a secondary marketing securities trader. For the past 10 years, Karen has coached various girls' softball teams and currently volunteers with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Lou Gehrig Travel Softball Team.

Paul and Karen Nanula live in East Amherst with their two daughters, Kerri, 20, a junior at Canisius College, and Nicole, 18, at senior at Clarence High School.