Rome, NY (WIBX) - It was all smiles at the Veterans Affairs' Rome Community Based Outpatient Clinic, as the health care facility received a massive donation from a local veterans group.

Utica's Walter Skiba Post #20, of the New York Polish Legion of America Veterans, presented the clinic with a check for $100,000 raised from selling a post in New York City.

The post sold for $2.3 million, and the proceeds were dispersed throughout the state.

Bob Hawes, Voluntary Service Manager for the Syracuse VA Medical Center, says the money will make an immediate impact.

"It's able to do the kinds of things... the patient center, the quality of life, the real kinds of things that when we have our appropriated funds we're not able to do the full range of things that we could with the donated funds," Hawes said. "So, it really is going to make a difference in the quality of healthcare here for the Rome veterans."

Clinic Director, Dr. Tim Mathis, says some of the money will be used to purchase equipment to fight obesity, diabetes and tobacco abuse.

"If we can assist people to try and lose weight, stop smoking and control their diabetes... if we can do those three things, we'll keep this population a lot healthier," Mathis said.

Mathis says the $100,000 donation is expected to last for about 5 years, and will be used to assist the more than 6,000 local veterans who visit the facility.

More From WIBX 950