Bills Mafia donates $40K to visually impaired charity in honor of ‘blind’ NFL refs after no-call
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The Bills Mafia has struck again.
Buffalo Bills fans made it clear they were not happy with the officiating during the Bills’ overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday by donating to a visually impaired community in honor of “blind” NFL referees. They’ve raised more than $40,000, according to a social media post from the Visually Impaired Advancement.
The VIA, a non-profit based in Buffalo that helps the visually impaired, started receiving an influx of donations this week in $17, $14 and $31 increments, symbolic of quarterback Josh Allen (No. 17), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (No. 14) and their jersey numbers added together, VIA confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
“This outcry of support is shocking and amazing. We are just so humbled by Bills Mafia and the City of Good Neighbors,” Samantha Burfiend, communications manager for the VIA, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.
“While we recognize that NFL referees are not visually impaired, $17 makes an impact on VIA to help individuals who are visually impaired,” Burfiend added.
It all started when Hunter Schinabeck donated $17 to the organization Monday after officials were “unable to see the blatant pass interference on Stefon Diggs,” he wrote on his donation page. Schinabeck was referring to a third-and-2 play late in regulation when Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis made contact with Diggs on a throw to the end zone. A penalty would have set up first-and-goal with 22 seconds remaining.
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For Buffalo fans, Bills Mafia means family, and giving back to others is a way of life
“It is saddening to witness,” wrote Schinabeck, who made light of his frustration in his donation submission to VIA, with hopes that “something like this never happens again.”
The VIA shared Schinabeck’s donation on its Twitter page Tuesday. Twitter user after Twitter user replied “Done.” One added, “Brilliant! Donated. Most fun donation ever!”
The Buffalo…
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Source : yahoo
