More than 21,000 Bills fans donate $430,000 in honor of Josh Allen's grandmother

Buffalo Bills fans’ contributions to the Oishei Children’s Hospital foundation reached the $400,000 mark Thursday afternoon, according to a tracker on the hospital's donations page.

News of the death of Allen’s grandmother, Patricia, broke Sunday night, after the Bills’ 44-34 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Bills fans responded by making spontaneous $17 gifts to the hospital in her memory. She died at age 80 Saturday in California.

Nearly 20,000 individual donors have contributed to support Allen, the hospital reported.

Oishei Children’s Hospital is one of the favorite charities of the Bills quarterback. He is donating 17% of the proceeds from Josh’s Jaqs cereal to Oishei, and he has made frequent visits to meet with children in the past.

“Early on in his career with the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen identified Oishei Children’s Hospital as an organization and cause that he wanted to stand strongly behind, and we couldn’t be prouder to have him on our team,”  Allegra C. Jaros, hospital president, said this week. “Josh is a person that truly cares about our community and the health of the families and kids that call the Buffalo Niagara region home. It’s just incredible to see Bills fans from all over the country, and frankly the world, make such a heartfelt tribute like this and rally around Josh and his family during this difficult time.”

In response to the initial groundswell of donations, the hospital’s website was updated to include a “$17” giving button draped in Bills colors. Contributions can be made by visiting www.kaleidahealth.org/foundations/childrens/donate.