NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Buffalo Bills Foundation announces 2025 Community Honors award winners

Dec 03, 2025 at 04:45 PM

Sydney Ciano

Seasonal writing associate

Buffalo Bills Community Honors Dinner, December 02, 2025 at Wayland Brewing Company.

The Buffalo Bills Foundation celebrated and honored volunteers, organizations, fans and community service leaders on and off the field on Giving Tuesday. The Foundation hosted its fifth annual Community Honors Dinner to recognize these change-makers in the community.

Here are 2025's honorees:

2025 Community Quarterback presented by LECOM: Dr. Mark Mahaney

The Buffalo Bills Community Quarterback recognizes a volunteer who exemplifies leadership, dedication, and commitment to giving back to the Western New York Community. This year's honoree, Dr. Mark Mahaney was nominated by Harvest House.

Mahaney is a volunteer dentist, providing essential dental services to those living in Buffalo's East Side. He travels from Lockport to Buffalo as the only volunteer at Good Neighbors Dental, serving those who are financially and medically underprivileged. Dr. Mahaney serves hundreds of patients, providing free services that add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Every Wednesday, Dr. Mahaney's clients can rely on him to be there without question. He is committed to providing the community with accessible health and dental care.

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2025 Jr. Community Quarterback presented by Great Lakes Medical Imaging: Ashanti Washington

Ashanti Washington was nominated by Buffalo Prep for this year's Jr. Community Quarterback due to her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to giving back to the Western New York Community.

Washington serves as a BI-POC Mentoring Program Leader and co-leader of a Work of Life Study internship at Nichols School. She develops programs for students of color to promote their growth in education through tutoring sessions, holiday events and speaker engagements.

With Clarence Youth Bureau, Washington engages in community events and earned the Bronze Volunteer Service Award, recognizing her efforts. Two to three times a month, she volunteers at the Hope & Joy Food Pantry in Cheektowaga, packing food orders and personally delivering them to the client's vehicle.

Washington is a certified CPR Lifeguard with the American Red Cross. She worked at a residential complex in Cheektowaga during the summer and used her breaks to teach young teaching children how to swim. She also supports children's summer reading programs, creating coloring sheets for visitors at the Clearfield Branch Library.

2025 Canadian Community Quarterback: Dr. Shawna Perlin

Honoring the Bills' neighbors, the 2025 Canadian Community Quarterback Award recognizes someone making a positive difference in Southern Ontario through community service. Dr. Shawna Perlin was honored as the first Canadian Community Quarterback.

Perlin volunteers with Second Harvest as a team leader, sorting through food. In the past year, she helped sort through over one million pounds of food. Perlin also helps fundraise and advocate Second Harvest in the community to spread visibility, promote volunteer opportunities and support food rescue organizations.

2025 Foundation MVP presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS: Providence Farm Collective

Providence Farm Collective was awarded the 2025 Foundation MVP, a true champion for food justice, cultural preservation, and community empowerment in Western New York.

In addition to the award, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Buffalo Bills Foundation also donated $5,000 to Providence Farm Collective to further support its mission of cultivating farmer-led and community-rooted agriculture to actualize the rights of under-resourced people.

Buffalo Bills Providence Farms partnership, September 11, 2024.

2025 Fan of the Year: Therese Forton-Barnes

Born and raised in Buffalo, Forton-Barnes is a dedicated Bills fan and is committed to her community. As founder of the Water Buffalo Club 716, she uplifts her Buffalo community, and her love stretches beyond the walls of Western New York. Bills fans worldwide join the Water Buffalo Club 716 and its nonprofit efforts.

Forton-Barnes' signature hat is made by local artisans in the Buffalo area. Stitch Buffalo empowers refugee and immigrant women around the world, promoting their craftsmanship and handmade work. Forton-Barnes works with Stitch Buffalo to represent these women through and connect them to the Bills Mafia.

She was surprised by Thurman and Patti Thomas at Stitch Buffalo, celebrating her as Buffalo's Fan of the Year and presenting her with tickets to the Super Bowl LX.

"I'm honored to represent all of the Buffalo Bills Mafia, all Buffalo Bills fans across the world for that matter," Forton-Barnes said. "From the bottom of my heart, from the tears in my eyes, you can tell how much I'm honored for this recognition."

FOTY Portraits, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.

2025 Buffalo Bills Salute to Service Nominee: Khalil Shakir

The NFL Salute to Service Award is presented every year, recognizing personnel across the league who demonstrate commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities.

The Bills' 2025 Salute to Service nominee is wide receiver Khalil Shakir.

Shakir played tackle football starting at seven years old on the Marine base with his father. All of the lessons he learned from his father and each practice stuck with him throughout his life. As a Buffalo Bill, Shakir raises funds and awareness to train service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. He remains passionate about the community, claiming it as part of his identity.

2025 Legend of the Year: Fred Jackson

The Legend of the Year Award recognizes a former Bills player who demonstrates commitment the community and philanthropy. Former Buffalo running back Fred Jackson was announced as the Bills' 2025 Legend of the Year.

Jackson is not only a record-setting Bills player, but is a two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. He worked with the "Billieve breast cancer awareness" campaign, Play60 health and wellness program, youth football initiatives and much more during his time in the NFL.

He currently participates in the Girls Flag Football jamboree, Seneca Nation Flag Football kickoff event, Rivalries High School matchup and Football Ontario Flag Football event. Jackson also serves as a Bills ambassador at watch parties and family events throughout the year, dedicating his time to the Buffalo community and Bills Mafia.

"This transcends everything you do on the football field, I promise you," Jackson said. "If everybody does something, does a little, then somebody doesn't have to do a lot. So, we just keep doing our little part."

2025 Buffalo Bills Community All-Stars: Christian Benford, Alec Anderson, Ja'Marcus Ingram and Ray Davis

The Buffalo Bills Community All-Star Award recognizes players whose efforts go beyond the field, making a lasting impact in the community through their positive influence and dedication to giving back. The 2025 Community All-Stars are cornerback Christian Benford, offensive tackle Alec Anderson, cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram and running back Ray Davis.

Benford is a member of the Buffalo Bills Social Justice Player Committee, participating in community visits to McKinley High School's trade program. Through his 47 Hearts Foundation, Benford uplifts vulnerable individuals and families through programs, partnerships and community-driven solutions. He also took part in the Kids Escaping Drugs Backpack Distribution at Parker Academy. During Thanksgiving, Benford helped provide meals to those at the Community Mission of Niagara Falls.

"I hope that everybody feels the energy and feels the love and feels the aspirations and wants to make a change as well in this world," Benford said.

Anderson shows his commitment to Mental Health Awareness. He serves as a spokesperson and advocate for Mental Health Advocates of Western New York, attends assemblies to raise awareness and raises funds for the cause. Anderson also participates in Bills community events, such as the Huddle for Hunger Charity school visit, BPS-CPR training and visiting the VA Hospital.

"I'm really looking forward to continuing my work in Buffalo. It has such a great family feel and it's very easy doing community work out here," Anderson said. "Every time we do something either as a team or individuals, everybody in the town shows up and it's a great feeling."

Ingram is a second-time Community All-Star after earning the honor in 2024 as well. He is also a member of the Social Justice Committee. Ingram is dedicated to being an active presence in youth education, visiting students and supporting their academic and long-term goals. After visiting McKinley High School where he learned from students in the trades, Ingram returned to a class every week to challenge himself. He hopes to continue inspiring students to value education, pursue their interests and not be afraid to try new things or push themselves.

Davis, another member of the Social Justice Committee, and a 2025 Big Brothers Big Sisters Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. His work in the community includes attending the Fostering Greatness Luggage Drive, hosting the 2025 Advocacy Award for Mental Health Awareness winner during Week 4 and partnering with Beat The Odds Foundation. Davis is committed to empowering youth, especially those in foster care, offering support and mentorship.

"We don't just want to be NFL players; we want to use our platform," Davis said.