NFL
Chiefs fans donate $223K to Buffalo hospital to mark win vs Bills
Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs have donated $223,000 to a Buffalo children’s hospital to commemorate their team’s thrilling win over the Bills last Sunday.
The Bills Mafia, as Buffalo fans are affectionately called, has earned a reputation for their charitable spirit, and now Kansas City Chiefs fans have followed their lead to commemorate KC’s electrifying overtime win on Sunday.
Over 12,000 donations totaling $223,000 have been received by the Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, which has ties to Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
$13 for 13 seconds
The fundraising effort by the Chiefs Kingdom Facebook group was originally intended to benefit one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ charitable organizations, but when they learned of the Mafia’s track record of donating to rival teams, they instead asked for donations in increments of $13 to Allen’s foundation. Chiefs fans heeded the call and raised $178,000 in only 24 hours.
The amount of $13 is a reference to the 13 seconds the Chiefs had left to tie the game at the end of regulation. Kansas City then went on to win the game 42-36 and earn a shot at a fourth consecutive AFC Championship.
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The Bills Mafia's spirit of giving
The Oishei Children’s Hospital had been a beneficiary of Bills fans who donated a total of $1.1 million in $17 increments as a nod to their quarterback’s jersey number, in honor of Allen’s grandmother Patricia who died last year.
They raised the money after learning that Allen led the Bills to victory only a day after her death. The amount they donated went toward the creation of the Patricia Allen Fund and the Patricia Allen Pediatric Recovery Wing in the children’s hospital.
Bills fans have a history of raising money in honor of players belonging to other NFL teams. They donated to quarterback Andy Dalton’s foundation for helping Buffalo end a 17-year playoff drought.
They also made contributions to Lamar Jackson’s charity after the Baltimore Ravens quarterback was knocked out of their AFC Divisional matchup with a concussion.