Give 716 Day unites Western New Yorkers for a 24-hour fundraising event to support local nonprofits and charities.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The spirit of community will once again be on full display, as Give 716 Day brings together Western New Yorkers for a 24-hour fundraising event designed to uplift nonprofits and local charities throughout the region.

The annual giving initiative, co-sponsored by the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres Foundations, was created to “harness the generosity of our community and build a more united and prosperous Western New York for all,” according to organizers.

“Buffalo is about Buffalo,” said Rich Jureller, VP for Community relations at the Buffalo Sabres said,  “There’s a great sense of community here. It’s important that we’re not only just doing our part, but also trying to lead the way.”

Since its launch, Give 716 has raised more than $4.1 million for local organizations across the region. This year, hundreds of nonprofits from multiple counties are participating — each working to make a lasting impact on their communities.

The event started at 7:16 p.m. on July 15, with donation opportunities continuing through July 16. Throughout the day, local sponsors will match donations each hour, helping maximize the impact of each gift.

Vice President, Community Relations for the Buffalo Bills, Michelle Roberts, said, it started in 2021 as a response to so many fundraisers being cut as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She explained, “We thought maybe we could use the excitement of our team when we’d seen Bills Mafia come out time and time again. They were just starting to have that reputation of the city of good neighbors and of being so generous to local charities or to charities throughout the country.”

Roberts also added, “Using our platforms and the excitement that the Sabres, the Bills, and the Bandits bring to this community, we’re able to get a lot of attention to the nonprofits that are doing so much every single day within our community.” 

In addition to knowing their donations are helping neighbors in need, donors can also earn incentives — including Buffalo Bills, Sabres, and Bandits tickets, signed merchandise, and experiences from local cultural institutions and sports teams. That includes 100 Josh Allen-signed Bills jerseys, which are up for grabs.

“Bills tickets, Sabres tickets, Bandits tickets. Josh Allen signed 100 Buffalo Bills jerseys, which will be in play along with some stuff from the Bisons, some of our local cultural organizations,”  Jureller said.

There’s also something new this year – it’s called the Golden Ticket Program. 

‘Anybody who donates $50 or more will have a choice of a Bills, Sabres, or Bandits pennant that they can get. And then they will also be eligible at that point to receive one of 10 golden ticket prizes. Those include a tour of the new Highmark Stadium, a tour of the current Highmark Stadium, a sit in the Sabres team photo at the end of the year, an on-field Bandits banner raising experience, and some other really great stuff,” Jureller said. 

For many local leaders, the event is more than just a fundraiser — it’s a lifeline.

One of the participating nonprofits, the Seneca Street Community Development Corporation, is located on Buffalo’s West Side. Director of Operations Jamie Ryder said the donations go directly toward programs that offer hope and opportunity to children and families.

“These kids consider us family, and they deserve every good thing in the world,” Ryder said. “In order for them to get that, we need donations so we can help provide a better chance at experiencing life.”

Ryder, who’s been with the organization for 14 years, says the visibility and support generated by Give 716 Day helps them continue their mission of helping neighborhoods thrive.

“This is huge because it gives everybody the opportunity to go online, to donate, to show their support,” she added.

You can donate by going to the Give 716 website.