The Buffalo Bills Foundation has distributed more than $400,000 in grants this summer to address hunger and support access to nutritious food for families in Western New York.
Buffalo Prep received $102,500 from the Foundation to fund its Prep Market initiative through the 2025-26 school year. The organization, based at Allen Hall at the University at Buffalo, serves academically ambitious scholars of color from over 35 ZIP codes. The Prep Market offers consistent access to culturally relevant and nutritious food, educational programs such as a cooking club, and community meals.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Buffalo Bills Foundation for their generous support of Buffalo Prep’s Prep Market initiative. Their investment ensures that our scholars and families have consistent access to nutritious food, hygiene essentials, and wellness resources that empower them to thrive,” said Patti Stephen, President of Buffalo Prep.
Buffalo Prep collaborates with Buffalo Go Green to provide fresh-take frozen meals and weekly produce bags for students and their families. In 2024, with help from the Bills Foundation, more than 750 scholars benefited from over 2,700 fresh-take meals and more than 480 weekly produce bags.
“This partnership not only strengthens our commitment to student success but also reflects the Foundation’s deep-rooted dedication to uplifting communities across Western New York,” Stephen added.
No Kid Hungry was awarded $167,147 by the Bills Foundation to expand summer meal programs in rural areas of Western New York. The grant supported ten sponsor sites offering non-congregate summer meals for children and families.
Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry, expressed her gratitude during a check presentation at the Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University.
“The Buffalo Bills have been an incredible supporter of No Kid Hungry’s work in New York. This year, they’re supporting 10 summer programs in Western New York that are allowing meals to be delivered to kids’ homes or kids and their families to pick up a couple of days’ worth of meals. Summer is the hungriest time of year, and it’s hard for families to access this. So, the Bills are making sure we can make it so much easier for families. It’s also been incredible because they’re helping us draw attention to programs,” Sabella said.
The grant helped facilitate meal distribution at several locations including Jamestown YMCA and multiple local school districts such as Cassadaga Valley CSD and Wellsville CSD. No Kid Hungry is a national campaign operated by Share Our Strength aimed at solving hunger issues in the United States.
The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) received $100,000 from the Bills Foundation for its Growing Green Youth Employment Program. MAP works toward building an equitable food system by providing economic opportunities and social justice training for youth through seasonal employment focused on agriculture.
Diane Picard, Executive Director of MAP explained: “MAP’s Summer Employment Program is more than just a summer job for teens it’s a gateway to life-changing opportunities throughout high school. Participants gain hands-on experience in urban agriculture, culinary arts, and social enterprise, while developing the skills and confidence to become leaders in their communities.”
Picard noted that when city funding was unexpectedly cut this year: “This year, when critical funding from the City and County was unexpectedly cut, the Buffalo Bills Foundation stepped in without hesitation. Their generous support ensured that 24 teens not only had meaningful summer jobs but can continue learning growing,and leading well into the school year.”
Additional grants included $25,000 awarded to Fare Share WNY’s 716 CSA Program which connects local families with fresh produce through weekly subscriptions; Home Beneath Our Feet received $50,000 for its Rooted & Rising program supplying fresh produce boxes each week for sixty households.
Dr. Tina Stenhouse,president of The Bills Foundation Board commented on expanding efforts against hunger: “We started with the kids…but we’re looking at other ways that we can make sure that nobody goes hungry in Western New York.The families are hungry,and so for The Buffalo Bills Foundation,we’re looking at ways that we can increase our leverage,increase our funds so that we can meet various food insecurity needs that are relevant in our community there,” added Stenhouse.
