Twenty Bills players and Bills staff supported kids from Camp Good Days and Roswell Park by painting pottery, making jokes, and putting smiles on the kids faces to help them get a little distracted from their health issues on Thursday.
The annual P.U.N.T. Foundation pottery making and painting event, organized by punter Brian Moorman and his wife Amber, took place in the Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse and there were lots of creative pieces made.
Bills players that joined Moorman to participate in the event were Jairus Byrd, Scott Chandler, Marcell Dareus, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Spencer Johnson, Andy Levitre, Rian Lindell, Ruvell Martin, Arthur Moats, David Nelson, Garrison Sanborn, Bryan Scott, Brad Smith, Lee Smith, Tyler Thigpen, Tim Toone, Kraig Urbik, George Wilson and Eric Wood.
"Each year we get together and get some of the guys on the team to come out and paint with kids from Camp Good Days and Roswell," said Moorman. "These are children that have had cancer or have cancer currently. To get them out here, have some fun with the guys, and put a smile on their face is really what it's all about."
The pottery painting event is used as a fundraising tool for Moorman's P.U.N.T. Foundation's 6th Annual Celebrity Wine Pairing event on November 7, 2011.
"This party helps us raise funds for our event on the seventh," said Moorman. "We'll use most of these as centerpieces or as silent auction items which have been a huge hit over the past few years. People can see that the kids had a good time doing it and especially doing it with a Buffalo Bill."
Moorman was amazed at the support the players provided.
"We get more support each year from the team and it's amazing, every year they always surprise me," said Moorman. "They always have been big supporters of this event and our fundraiser every year, and without them we wouldn't be successful. Their support really shows the character they have and how much they care about the community."
Jairus Byrd enjoyed the time with the kids and is looking forward to seeing his work of art.
"The opportunity to come out here and spend time with kids is a lot of fun," said Byrd. "It means a lot anytime to come out here and support a great guy like Brian Moorman and his foundation. My paint job was great. We did a football field and I'm really excited to see how it turns out after it comes out of the kiln."
Ryan Fitzpatrick was one of the guys who really got into their pottery painting.
"Fitz got his hands dirty and put his handprint in his centerpiece, so I'm hoping that goes really well in the auction," said Moorman.
Tyler Thigpen and the kids he worked with had fun.
"I did realize there is a life after football for me and that's painting pottery," joked Thigpen. "The two kids I worked with had this system and hands down our pottery was second to none. The three of us teamed up and we produced the quality of Picasso."
Thigpen summed up the reality of the event.
"At the end of the day though, it was all about giving back to this community and spending time with the children. It's unbelievable to think what these kids have to go through, and I'm just happy I got to spend that time with them and get to know them a little bit. We are in the position where we can give back, and I'm so grateful and happy to do it."
On Monday night November 7th, Brian and Amber Moorman will host the 6th Annual Celebrity Wine Pairing at Asbury Hall on Delaware Avenue. All proceeds will benefit Brian Moorman's P.U.N.T. Foundation.
For more information, visit www.brianmoorman.org or call 716.713.7546.
