BILLS
ALUMNI FOUNDATION
REACHES $1,000,000 MILLION DOLLARS IN GIVING
The Buffalo Bills Alumni
Foundation awarded Chris and Donna Kowalski of
Orchard Park, NY with their Grand Prize in the Bills Alumni Foundation's
6TH Annual Raffle Drawing. The drawing was held at the Adam's Mark
Hotel in Buffalo on Sunday evening, January 18, 2009.
Charley Ferguson, Bills Alumni Foundation treasurer, presented a $2,500
check to the Kowalski's who, along with nearly 100 supporters and ticket
holders, were present at the raffle drawing event.
Nearly 600 tickets were sold at $50 each for the raffle which directly
benefits those organizations who participated in the sale of raffle
tickets. Organizations were able to raise between 50 and 70 percent on
every $50.00 raffle ticket they sold, and many took advantage of this
great fundraising opportunity.
"I think it's great what the Bills Alumni Foundation does for youth
groups in Western New York," said an elated Chris Kowalski. "Hopefully,
this will bring an even greater awareness of the wonderful work the
Alumni Foundation does."
Chris Kowalski sold raffle tickets to help support the Orchard Park High
School Baseball Team whose group will be the beneficiary of the 100
tickets they sold.
Other prize winners included 2nd place winner Sherry Carr of Chaumont,
NY who won a 42" LCD HDTV, 3rd place winner Kirk Parry of North
Tonawanda who won $750, and 4th place winner Anne DiMatteo of Hamburg
who won a 10-megapixel digital camera.
In addition, the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation reached an impressive
milestone on Sunday surpassing the one million dollar mark in giving.
"This is really a community objective and for people who are really in
need," said Bills Alumni Association president and former Bills
linebacker Harry Jacobs (1963-1969). "What we're doing is helping those
less fortunate than we are."
The Bills Alumni Association set their sights on a million dollars five
years ago as their association grew and their efforts grew too. It was
only fitting that they reached the million dollar mark on a football
Sunday during the AFC and NFC championship games.
"Over the last five years we started targeting a certain amount (of
giving)," said Bills Alumni Association treasurer and former Bills wide
receiver Charley Ferguson (1963-1969). "We want to do things to give
back to the community and we were able to accomplish that million dollar
goal on Sunday."
The former football stars use the same skills that were used on the
football field to help the community; leadership, a spirit and belief in
making a difference, and their tireless efforts are making a positive
impact for people in need in the Western New York community.
"We're going to make a difference in our communities through our
attitudes, our behaviors, our outreach and our monies," said Jacobs.
"Money is a big thing, there's no doubt about that, but more than that
is the spirit in which our team, Buffalo Bills Alumni, looks at life."
Jacobs described the comparison between the on-field accomplishments
where his Bills teams won back-to-back world championships in the AFL
(1964-65) to the accomplishments in the community.
"We want to be out there in front of people and help them see that there
is hope and if there is hope, we need to dig down deep," said Jacobs.
"When we'd lose a football game we'd get down deep and dig hard and make
a difference and make it happen on the football field and that's what
brought us victory. We have that same attitude now, even at 72, I still
have that same attitude and I know the other guys we deal with do. We
need to and want to be out in front of our community and help them see
that spirit that God's given us so that can also filter out to them and
they too can stand up and make a difference with their truth and their
hope and their community."
The Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation was founded in 1999 and is comprised
of past Bills players that have left an imprint on society during their
football careers and want to continue molding society in a positive
manner.
For more information regarding the Bills Alumni Association, please call
716.694.7867 or email ciffaj@jrcpromotions.net.
