Bills fans reportedly raise $360K — and counting — for Lamar Jackson's favorite charity
Buffalo Bills fans proudly embrace their reputation as the rowdiest in the NFL.
They’re also among the league’s most charitable.
News broke on Sunday that Bills fans organized on Reddit started a campaign to donate to the favorite charity of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Bills eliminated the Ravens from the playoffs on Saturday in a game that saw Jackson exit with a concussion.
How much was raised on Sunday wasn’t clear. But many fans were donating in increments of $8, $17 or $17.08, a nod to Jackson’s jersey No. 8 and Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s No. 17.
The money was going to the Louisville chapter of Blessings in a Backpack, a group that helps feed elementary school children who may otherwise go hungry. Jackson played in college at Louisville.
On Monday, WJZ’s Rick Ritter reported that Bills fans had raised more than $360,000 for the charity. That’s a lot of donations in $8 and $17 increments — alongside some exceeding the jersey-themed suggestion. According to Ritter, more than 13,600 fans had donated, adding up to an average donation of roughly $26.47.
Jackson expressed is gratitude for the outpouring of support.
Appreciate that #BillsMafia Means A lot not to only me but those kids as well💜💜 https://t.co/fDNjJMpni9
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) January 18, 2021
This isn’t the first time Bills Mafia has opened its collective wallet to support causes close to Bills players or their opponents.
In 2018, fans raised money for the The Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation after then-Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton helped the Bills clinch their playoff berth in 17 seasons with a game-winning pass against the Ravens. Those donations also had a theme with many coming in at $17 to mark the end of the playoff drought. They added up to more than $415,000.
Bills fans also raised money last season in memory of Dolphins quarterback and former Bill Ryan Fitzpatrick’s late mother. When Allen’s grandmother Patricia Allen died last year, fans raised more than $1million to Oishei Children’s Hospital. A $217,000 donation by Bills superfan named Sue McCollum pushed that campaign into seven figures.
Jackson’s season came to a difficult end in Buffalo on Saturday. But he can certainly smile knowing that some good came out of the trip to upstate New York.
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