Highmark donates $300K in wake of mass shooting. Victim Katherine Massey worked for the insurer for 40 years

In her memory, the insurer is awarding a grant to We Are Women Warriors, a nonprofit organization she co-founded, dedicated to helping inner-city residents in socioeconomic, educational, environmental and criminal justice.

In addition, to honor Massey's lifelong contributions toward the betterment of Buffalo Public Schools, the health plan is creating a scholarship fund for a Buffalo Public Schools student.

"We are heartbroken over the lives lost at the hands of racism and violence and pray for their families, friends, and neighbors," the insurer's President Dr. Michael Edbauer said in a statement. "It is with especially heavy hearts that we remember Katherine ‘Kat’ Massey, who as our longtime colleague dedicated four decades to serving our Blue Cross Blue Shield members."

In all, Highmark is donating $300,000 to honor Massey and to support those affected by Saturday's mass shooting at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue, where a white supremacist killed 10 people, including Massey, and wounded three others before he was taken into custody.

Highmark's funds also are going to mental health providers helping the Jefferson Avenue community, including BestSelf Behavioral Health, Spectrum Health and Human Services, Endeavor Health Services and Crisis Services; to the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund to support the most immediate and long-term needs in the community; and toward the continued donation and distribution of essential items at many locations throughout the East Side, including FeedMore WNY, First Fruits Food Pantry at the Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church and the Buffalo Community Fridge.

"Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York remains committed to supporting our community through this tragic time, while we honor the lives and legacies of those we lost," Edbauer added. "This is particularly close to our hearts, and to our company, because Kat Massey was one of those we lost, and she worked with us for 40 years."

Massey retired from the health plan in 2011. The last job she held with the insurer was as a document processing specialist in the company's marketing department, said Highmark spokesperson Amber Hartmann.

Throughout her long career, Massey also held a number of positions in the insurer's accounts payable and customer service departments.

Businesses making donations to support victims

Some prominent Buffalo businesses are continuing to make contributions and providing support in the wake of last Saturday's mass shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue.

• M&T Bank announced a $500,000 grant to "help support the victims, their families and long-term rebuilding initiatives in the community."

The Buffalo-based bank said it is working with nonprofits and community organizations to determine how best to distribute the funds.

"M&T employees, including members of the African American Resource Group, will work with the M&T Charitable Foundation to determine how to support local organizations above and beyond current commitments in the areas of racial equity, social justice, anti-violence programing, and mental health counseling," the bank said.

• Delta Sonic said it is donating $100,000 to FeedMore WNY, to help families struggling with access to food in the area where the shooting occurred.

• Citi is donating $100,000 to the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.

• Evans Bank has donated $100,000 to the newly formed Buffalo Together Community Response Fund.

• Northtown Automotive is collecting donated grocery and sundry items at its area dealerships in response to the mass shooting at a Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue.

The dealer group said the items - such as milk, water, diapers, baby food, hygiene products, paper and canned products - will be transported each day to locations directly affected by the mass shooting.