Thurman Thomas foundation raises $100K to help grieving Buffalo families
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A tearful Thurman Thomas on Monday told of how he has always embraced Buffalo, because the city has for so long embraced the NFL Hall of Fame running back.
Then Thomas, a Buffalo Bills icon from the glory days of the 1990s, and his wife Patricia announced that their foundation has already raised $100,000 to help Buffalo and grieving families in the aftermath of Saturday's mass killing.
"Hate exists everywhere," Patricia Thomas said at an afternoon news conference. "And we have to come together. We've got to come together and let Buffalo be a beacon as to how that can happen."
The Thurman Thomas Family Foundation has provided scholarships for disadvantaged students and sponsored youth football camps across the Erie County region. Shortly after Saturday's fatal shooting of 10 people inside an East Buffalo Tops, the Foundation announced plans to donate an initial $10,000 and to raise more money to help the families and community.
"We will be working with community leaders and advocates for the families so that you can be certain that every dollar we raise starting today with our initial $10,000 donation and throughout this campaign will go to this effort," the Foundation announced Sunday. "Now is the time to love each other and be the best neighbors possible."
By Monday, the Foundation had already raised $100,000.
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Other Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres have also been finding ways to make contributions to the community, while letting their love for the City of Buffalo be known.
Bills star quarterback Josh Allen told Sports Illustrated that he expects the team to meet soon to decide how best it can help in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Contact Gary Craig at gcraig@gannett.com or at 585-258-2479. Follow him on Twitter at gcraig1.
More: 'Where do we put this pain?' Poet laureate searches for words to comfort Buffalo
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Thurman Thomas foundation raises $100K for Buffalo shooting families
