Buffalo teams raise $1M with ‘Choose Love’ shirts

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Through the sale of “Choose Love” T-shirts, the NFL’s Bills, NHL’s Sabres and National Lacrosse League’s Bandits have surpassed $1 million in funds raised to support the East Buffalo community and victims impacted by the mass shooting last month.

The shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets in a predominantly Black neighborhood on May 14 killed 10 people and injured three.

The T-shirts with the phrasing and a selection of the teams’ logos were made available with a $25 donation. All proceeds go towards the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund, which supports the survivors of the deceased and others directly affected, and the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund, which addresses other needs in the community related to the mass killing.

Players, coaches and staff from all three local professional teams wore the shirts May 18 while helping out in the community following the shooting.

“‘Choose Love’ — it’s a motto that I think maybe that we should start adopting as a country,” quarterback Josh Allen said. It’s the golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. It was disgusting, deplorable, and there are so many words that you can use, none of which are nice.

“We’re here to brighten peoples’ days and help them move past this. We want to share the pain with our community and let them understand that we care. Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, visited the site with former Sabres and Bills players and owners Kim & Terry Pegula.

Last month, the Buffalo Bills Foundation, combined with the NFL Foundation, announced a $400,000 donation to the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund and a variety of nonprofit organizations working on emergency response efforts. Goodell and his wife, Jane, also donated $50,000 to the Bills Social Justice Fund, while Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas and his wife, Patricia, have raised over $264,000 through the Thurman Thomas Family Foundation to support the victims and community. The Bills acknowledged the importance and will continue to support the community and those who were affected in the future.

” We’re here for you to help us do what we can. We have an open ear to hear from the community how we can help,” running back Taiwan Jones said last month. “What we know is that we must be there; we have have to show up. It is easy to be here. It is the hard part, as you mentioned, to think about a long-term strategy moving forward. “