The Buffalo Bills Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 Community Honors awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for their service to the Western New York and Southern Ontario communities. The awards were presented during the fifth annual Community Honors Dinner on Giving Tuesday.
Dr. Mark Mahaney was named the 2025 Community Quarterback, an award sponsored by LECOM. Nominated by Harvest House, Dr. Mahaney volunteers as a dentist at Good Neighbors Dental in Buffalo’s East Side, providing free dental care to financially and medically underprivileged residents. He travels from Lockport every week as the clinic’s only volunteer dentist, serving hundreds of patients.
Ashanti Washington received the Jr. Community Quarterback award, presented by Great Lakes Medical Imaging and nominated by Buffalo Prep. Washington leads mentoring programs for students of color at Nichols School and volunteers with Clarence Youth Bureau and Hope & Joy Food Pantry in Cheektowaga. She is also certified as a CPR lifeguard and supports children’s reading programs at Clearfield Branch Library.
The Foundation introduced a new honor this year: Canadian Community Quarterback, which went to Dr. Shawna Perlin for her work with Second Harvest in Southern Ontario. Over the past year, Perlin led efforts to sort over one million pounds of food and supported fundraising initiatives for food rescue organizations.
Providence Farm Collective was recognized as the 2025 Foundation MVP by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS and received a $5,000 donation from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Buffalo Bills Foundation to support its mission promoting farmer-led agriculture among under-resourced people.
Therese Forton-Barnes was named Fan of the Year for her dedication to both supporting the team and community involvement through founding Water Buffalo Club 716. She works with Stitch Buffalo to empower refugee and immigrant women artisans connected to Bills fans worldwide. Upon receiving her award from Thurman and Patti Thomas at Stitch Buffalo, Forton-Barnes said: “I’m honored to represent all of the Buffalo Bills Mafia, all Buffalo Bills fans across the world for that matter,” adding, “From the bottom of my heart, from the tears in my eyes, you can tell how much I’m honored for this recognition.”
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir is this year’s Salute to Service nominee for his efforts raising funds for veterans with PTSD through training service dogs. Shakir has personal ties to military life from his childhood experiences on a Marine base with his father.
Former running back Fred Jackson was named Legend of the Year in recognition of his continued philanthropic work after retirement—including participation in breast cancer awareness campaigns, youth football programs, health initiatives such as Play60, girls’ flag football events, high school matchups, and serving as a team ambassador at various events throughout Western New York. Jackson stated: “This transcends everything you do on the football field, I promise you,” continuing: “If everybody does something, does a little, then somebody doesn’t have to do a lot. So we just keep doing our little part.”
Four current players were selected as Community All-Stars: Christian Benford (for work with vulnerable families through his foundation), Alec Anderson (mental health advocacy), Ja’Marcus Ingram (youth education outreach), and Ray Davis (mentorship for foster youth). Benford said: “I hope that everybody feels the energy and feels the love and feels the aspirations and wants to make a change as well in this world.” Anderson added: “I’m really looking forward to continuing my work in Buffalo. It has such a great family feel and it’s very easy doing community work out here,” noting community support at every event he attends.
Ingram continues his commitment from last year’s recognition by regularly visiting students at McKinley High School; Davis participates actively with Big Brothers Big Sisters Alumni Hall of Fame events while focusing on empowering youth in foster care systems through mentorship opportunities.
Davis summed up their shared motivation saying: “We don’t just want to be NFL players; we want to use our platform.”
