Community

81 Tackles Hunger

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills wide receiver, is tackling a major community issue in Western New York as the official spokesperson for the 81tackleshunger fundraising campaign. The campaign coincides with September’s Hunger Action Month and replaces the Buffalo Bills’ in-stadium Fan Food Drive for the 2009-2010 season. The theme of the campaign “We need 81 from everyone,” plays off Owens’ jersey number and requests that every individual donates at least 81 cents and every business donates $81.00 to assist the Food Bank in its efforts to feed 96,000 less fortunate Western New Yorkers. Donations can be made online at www.81tackleshunger.com, in person at any of the 40 participating Tops Friendly Market stores in Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Niagara counties, via mail to the Food Bank (donation form available at www.81tackleshunger.com) or over the phone at 716-852-1305.

Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club

Established in 2002, the Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club makes numerous appearances throughout the football season and enables the team's newest players the opportunity to get involved and learn more about the Western New York and Southern Ontario communities. The 2008 Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club made a number of visits throughout Western New York and Canada including Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Lincoln M. Alexander High School in Toronto, Northwest Buffalo Community Center and the Buffalo Bills Holiday Party. Keep checking back throught the season as the Toyota Rookie Club continues to make appearances around the community!

Play 60 Challenge

The Buffalo Bills are proud once again in 2009 to partner with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and the American Heart Association to run the Play 60 Challenge in schools throughout Western New York.

Play 60 is the NFL's youth health and fitness campaign, focused on making the next generation of kids as healthy as possible by encouraging them to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. In addition to national reach through PSA's and online programs, Play 60 is also implemented at the grassroots level through NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs all with a focus on the importance of physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.

The Buffalo Bills Play 60 Challenge sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and the American Heart Association incorporates several key elements such as in school activity kits for teachers, fitness planners for students, and a four week fitness contest. The four week fitnesscontest includes a pep rally style kickoff event with over 1,700 Buffalo Public School students to get the children excited about physical fitness and a fitness party for over 300 Buffalo Public School students and teachers in the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse. For more information on the NFL Play 60 program please visit www.nflrush.com/health.

Kid's Escaping Drugs

The Buffalo Bills, Verizon Wireless and 97 Rock teamed up to support the Kids Escaping Drugs Campaign. To benefit and raise awareness for the campaign Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards, DE Chris Kelsay, S Donte Whitner, CB Leodis McKelvin, G Brad Butler and DT John McCargo signed autographs at the Verizon Wireless Store at the McKinley Mall on November 3rd. The Kids Escaping Drugs Campaign was created with the purpose of raising funds for the construction and support of adolescent drug & alcohol treatment facilities. The Kids Escaping Drugs Renaissance Campus is located in West Seneca, NY and consists of three buildings that house up to 62 chemically-dependent youths ages 12 to 20. For more information on Kids Escaping Drugs visit http://www.ked.org.

Community Ticket Program

The Buffalo Bills Community Ticket Donation program is very popular with the team. Various Bills players and coaches take part in purchasing and donating season tickets to community groups and organizations of their choice. Guests are given game tickets along with food and beverage vouchers. In recognition of the groups and the coaches' and players' donation, there are banners along the stadium ring wall and an announcement welcoming the guests on the scoreboard. Over the past 4 years Buffalo Bills players and coaches have donated over 5,000 tickets to local community groups.

Bills Billieve Breast Cancer Awareness

The Buffalo Bills are partnering with Kaleida Health, the Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Zeta Tau Alpha, and the Bills Women's Association to coordinate their fourth annual Billieve - Breast Cancer Awareness Program beginning this Sunday, October 11, 2009 at the Bills vs. Browns game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Pregame activities include a pink ribbon distribution to fans at the entrance gates, breast cancer survivors on the field forming Stampede Row, pink coin for coin toss and the presentation of the game ball, which will be a special ceremonial pink football. The Jills cheerleaders will wear pink jerseys and use pink pom-poms during the game. The Bills will have pink goal post padding, Billieve banners on the ring wall and ribbon logos painted on the field. Players will also use pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, sideline caps, Captain's patches and sideline/quarterback towels. The Bills and DNC will also host a player autograph session on Monday, October 12th between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to promote breast cancer awareness month via the new pink-themed product line at the Bills Store. Fans must present at least one "Billieve" item to be autographed by the players.

The WNY Komen Affiliate promotes and aids in the work of the Cancer Services Program of New York State. These county partnerships provide breast health screening and cancer treatment services for uninsured or underinsured women who qualify. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Blood Drive

TBD

Touchdown for Teachers 

The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank started a “Touchdown for Teachers” program where teachers are honored for their outstanding service to their schools and communities. During the November 29th Buffalo Bills home game selected teachers were honored for their outstanding service to their schools and communities. Five (5) finalists were selected by a panel of community members and school officials, with the assistance of the Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank. Honorees were chosen based on their amount of involvement in the school or community, degree of positive impact on the school or community and their demonstrated commitment to education.