Kansas City Chiefs fans have donated more than $175,000 to a fund that honors the memory of the grandmother of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo reported Wednesday morning that the Patricia Allen Fund, which benefits the hospital, had taken in $178,000 from more than 9,800 contributors since the first donations were received a day earlier.
An incredible $178,000 from over 9800 donors has been donated in just over 24 hours from #ChiefsKingdom Thank you all! These donations help the ongoing need and ensure our team has the tools, training and programs to care for the kids in WNY ?? pic.twitter.com/wWXvDXxjXF
— Oishei Children's Hospital (@OCHBuffalo) January 26, 2022
The Chiefs beat the Bills in an epic AFC divisional playoff game on Sunday, 42-36 in overtime. The Bills took the lead with 13 seconds left, enough for Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes to get his team into range for a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime.
The fundraising drive gained momentum when fan Brett Fitzpatrick, who runs the Twitter handle Chiefs Kingdom Memes, suggested on social media donating $13 — for 13 seconds — to Allen’s foundation.
Allen threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns.
“Out of HUGE respect for Josh Allen, I’m donating $13 to his foundation which supports the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo,” Fitzpatrick wrote. “Hope some of y’all join this too.”
Hospital officials appreciated the outpouring of support.
“It’s certainly bittersweet with the game,” Andrew Bennett, the vice president of the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, told The Buffalo News. “But the generosity of fans toward Josh is just absolutely remarkable. We’re incredibly grateful for this impactful support. It’s a great sign of sportsmanship and integrity, watching how fans have reacted to this. It’s another huge win for the kids that we’re helping out, day in and day out here in Western New York.”
–Field Level Media