BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than $80,000 has been donated to a children’s hospital in Buffalo, New York, after a Kansas City Chiefs fan challenged the team’s fanbase to donate to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s charity.
The kicker, though, is that many of those participating in the impromptu fundraiser benefiting the Patricia Allen Fund at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital are doing so $13 at a time.
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With only 13 seconds remaining on the clock, the Chiefs drove 44 yards to tie Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Bills, setting up a 42-36 Kansas City overtime win for the ages.
Despite a heartbreaking @BuffaloBills loss Sunday night, our hearts are warm this morning waking up to $13 donations coming from @ChiefsMMZ @Chiefs fans! Thank you all so much, your support helps ensure great care for the kids and families in WNY ❤️ @JoshAllenQB
— Oishei Children's Hospital (@OCHBuffalo) January 25, 2022
According to The Kansas City Star, the user responsible for maintaining the Chiefs Kingdom Memes account on Twitter urged his fellow Chiefs Kingdom members on Monday night to each donate $13 to Allen’s fund as a way, reflecting an obvious good-natured dig at the game’s wild finish.
Suggesting all Chiefs fans donate $13 to Josh Allen’s foundation to commemorate the drive that tied the game with just 13 seconds left and the best playoff game in Chiefs history
— Chiefs Kingdom Memes (@ChiefsMMZ) January 25, 2022
Donate here: https://t.co/X6McN7SB59
Much respect to #BillsMafia from #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/FfxwQ1164T
By Tuesday night, more than 6,000 Chiefs fans had answered the call, The Buffalo News confirmed, and the steadily increasing fundraising tally indicated that a large percentage of those donors exceeded the recommended donation.
“Who could have anything but respect for the #Bills, @JoshAllenQB & obviously what #BillsMafia does?”
— Jason Wolf (@JasonWolf) January 26, 2022
– #Chiefs fan Brett Fitzgerald @ChiefsMMZ, who made first $13 donation to @OCHBuffalo
6,000+ fans have given $80,000+ & counting ❤️💙💰 @TheBuffaloNewshttps://t.co/CmQ1yVkFKS
Count us in for $1,300! ❤️@OCHBuffalo @OxfordPennant https://t.co/N4guFzfVAW
— Charlie Hustle (@CharlieHustleCo) January 25, 2022
Meanwhile, the Twitter user behind the viral fundraiser explained in a follow-up tweet that his initial call to fans was to donate $13 to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ foundation to commemorate the mind-boggling drive, but a conversation with a Bills fan changed the plan.
Let me clarify this started as a $13 donation to Mahomes charity. A buddy of mine was messaging a Bills fan friend of his & said if Bills won, they would likely have been donating to Mahomes charity
— Chiefs Kingdom Memes (@ChiefsMMZ) January 25, 2022
I said I love that idea & changed the donation recommendation to Josh Allen’s pic.twitter.com/wBJajTNKR7
Andrew Bennett, vice president of the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, confirmed to WGRZ that Buffalo fans are donating to the cause as well, calling the gestures a “great reflection of sportsmanship.”
Money donated to the Patricia Allen Fund is allocated to Oishei’s trauma program, its emergency department and its pediatric intensive care unit, Bennett told the TV station.
Learn more about the Patricia Allen Fund.
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