Heartbreak turns to heartwarming, as donations pile-in to Patricia Allen Fund

More than 12,000 donors contributed more than $223,000 as of 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday
Patricia Allen Fund
Thank you message posted to Oishei Children's Hospital Twitter account as donations pour in to Patricia Allen Fund Photo credit @OCHBuffalo

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - There is a silver lining to the storm cloud that hangs over Buffalo Bills Nation this week.

Really. There is.

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Before the agony of Sunday's overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs settled-in to "Bills Mafia" and the team itself, a Chiefs fan group was rallying "Chiefs Kingdom" to donate $13 to to the Patricia Allen Fund, named after the late grandmother of Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

The $13 amount was a play on the 13-second drive that led to the Chiefs winning one of the most competitive and entertaining NFL playoff games of all-time.

One tweet, and the rest is history.

It sure doesn't take long for word to spread, and $13 can add up pretty fast. The tally of new donations into the fund that benefits children treated at Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo was crossing the $223,000 mark Wednesday afternoon.

"It feel so wonderful," said Oishei Children's Hospital President, Allegra Jaros in a WBEN interview late Wednesday. "I'm so proud to be a Buffalonian."

Jaros tells us while most of the donations came in increments of $13, there was one as high as $4,000, with more than 12,000 donations since the game Sunday. Jaros calls it an incredible show of respect.

The Patricia Allen Fund was founded after Bills fans discovered Allen played a game after learning of the death of his beloved grandmother in 2020. The money in the fund is primarily used for the pediatric critical care team at Oishei.

"It's a wonderful gesture to bring something wonderful out of a heartbreak," said Jaros.

***Photo: Oishei Children's Hospital (@OCHBuffalo)

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Allegra Jaros from Oishei Children's Hospital on Chiefs fans donating to the Patricia Allen Fund
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Oishei Children's Hospital (@OCHBuffalo)