CINCINNATI – Who would have thought a TD pass could become the early Feel Good Sports Story of 2018?
Andy Dalton sent a thank-you letter to Buffalo Bills fans Saturday after they flooded the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation with $345,000 in grateful donations - a heartwarming response to Dalton's TD pass that beat the Ravens and lifted the Bills into the playoffs.
"What you all have done is beyond football, the Bengals and Bills, and any individual player or play," the Bengals quarterback said in a letter published in the Buffalo News. "Your donations will touch hundreds of real people, real lives."
ICYMI- Andy and JJ shared their appreciation with the Buffalo News earlier today. https://t.co/tXSJKV6eHi
— AJD Foundation (@ajdfoundation) January 6, 2018
The Bengals quarterback said there were 15,000 donors "from as far away as Australia, Israel and England" and he explained how their generosity would benefit families of seriously ill and physically-challenged children.
SEE how one Cincinnati family benefits from the foundation's work:
Buffalo Bills donations to the Dalton Foundation will change lives like this one https://t.co/VqCPyVSyGD pic.twitter.com/EmTEj93YPz
— WCPO (@WCPO) January 7, 2018
A new ESPN video also provided an inside look at Dalton's foundation.
Thank you for @ESPNMichele for sharing the impact of our Foundation and the support of the #BillsMafia. Check out the story here. https://t.co/8qxe7MqAtT
— AJD Foundation (@ajdfoundation) January 7, 2018
Dalton also responded to the contributions by placing five thank-you billboards on highways in the Buffalo area.
#BillsMafia you will see billboards up later today thanking fans for supporting @andydalton14 @ajdfoundation Vehr communications just sent us this. pic.twitter.com/fmmnfEmj0e
— Nalina Shapiro (@nalinashapiro4) January 3, 2018
Former Elder High star Eric Wood, the Bills center, tweeted that he's proud of Bills fans for supporting Dalton's cause. Wood played for Elder's back-to-back Ohio Division I champions in 2002-03.
It's incredible what Bills fans are doing with @andydalton14 Foundation. You all are solidifying what I know about #billsmafia and letting the rest of the world know how special you are!
— Eric Wood (@EWood70) January 2, 2018
READ about the Bills fan who started it all:
Meet the #Bills fan who ignited wave of donations to Andy Dalton's foundation https://t.co/QvkWxqQxxo pic.twitter.com/hNKTF2Zpfo
— [BN] Blitz (@BNBlitzNow) January 5, 2018
Dalton was cleaning out his Bengals locker and checking his Twitter account Monday morning when he joked about his new-found hero status in western New York.
"I think I'm the hottest guy in Buffalo right now," Dalton said. "According to my Twitter, I think everybody's loving us right now. Obviously that's a crazy fan base and they're all pretty excited."
Little did he know.
RELATED: Bills fans donate to Boyd's cause, too
At the time, a few hundred donations had trickled into his foundation from the Buffalo area. Within a few hours, the trickle turned into Niagara Falls.
We are getting 10 donations a minute!
— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 2, 2018
By the end of the day, more than 2,500 donors had contributed over $57,000.
In the 24 hours since the 1st donation came in, over 2500 donors and just over $57,000 and counting! Last update for the night! I will update tomorrow. We can’t thank y’all enough!
— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 2, 2018
Many donations came in the sum of $17, Dalton said. That number represents how many years Bills suffered without making the playoffs – the longest streak in North American sports.
And get this: The grateful Bills organization was rallying fans to donate on the team’s Twitter account.
Bills fans, you're amazing.
After @andydalton14's last minute heroics, more than 150 of you have donated $3,250+ to Andy Dalton's @ajdfoundation to thank him.
If you'd like to join in on the fun, you can donate at https://t.co/5dPjoitL0Q! pic.twitter.com/v0nzfvv8vU
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 1,2018
Some Bills fans delivered Buffalo wings delivered to Paul Brown Stadium Monday to show their appreciation to the Bengals.
Just dropped off the wings. Thanks Bengals! #Bengals #billsmafia #BuffaloBills @buffalobills pic.twitter.com/PNs4gHZrTA
— Ryan (@rmierzwa) January 1, 2018
If you can't imagine the reaction from Bills fans, watch this video. It's synchronized to the reaction from the Bills locker room and fans gatherings when Dalton hit Tyler Boyd for the game-winning TD.
Bills to the playoffs! Synchronized reactions to the huge Dalton/Boyd TD! @SalSports @joe_stojek @S_Whipple @716FoodandSport @buffalobills @StephenHauscka4 @boutdat_23 @bengals #billsmafia pic.twitter.com/GusPFfkYZk
— discodancing (@discodancing) January 1, 2018
OK, some Bills fans went, well, overboard.
Andy Dalton, I am a man but I would have your baby if I could...
— Jackson Bills (@rivsplace) January 1, 2018
Scott Aldinger summed up what it says about Bills fans:
"We might break a few tables here and there and light ourselves on fire from time to time but we Bills fans sure are classy when it counts."
The Dalton's foundation provides support, opportunities, resources and life-changing experiences to seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families in Cincinnati and Fort Worth, according to its website.
To donate, go to the website and click on the button at the top right.
