JACKSON, Wyo. — In the season of giving, a local nonprofit was the beneficiary of a fundraiser hosted in part by a local football fan club over the weekend.
Each week, the local Buffalo Bills Mafia crew gathers at Eleanor’s bar to watch Josh Allen and the Bills take on their opponents. On Sunday, the group threw a watch party at the local watering hole, complete with raffle prizes, a boom box playing the Bills theme song and a former Bills kicker in attendance. Buffalo sealed the festivities with a 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The local chapter of Habitat for Humanity was the recipient of the fundraiser, and Eleanor’s also kicked in 10% of its proceeds to the cause. Steve Christie, who was a placekicker for Buffalo from 1992 to 2000, attended the event with his wife Kelly and posed for photos with fans throughout the game. Christie played 144 games in the NFL from 1991 to 2004, kicking 336 of 431 career field goals.
“We were super excited to host Steve and Kelly,” Eleanor’s General Manager Georgia Hamren told Buckrail in a text message. “We have always prided ourselves on being an active member of the local community and really enjoyed the opportunity to donate. Additionally, it was just a really fun way to spend football Sunday with great people!”
Teton Habitat Development Manager Jason Bruni told Buckrail that the most impactful part was getting to engage with community members who might not be reached otherwise. He said the likelihood of a small turnout was high, due to it being Thanksgiving weekend, but fans showed up and many joined specifically for the event.
“Housing is our thing,” Bruni said. “But it’s really cool as a community to come together over something else. We have this community event at Eleanor’s, with the owner of Eleanor’s and The Bird, the Bills Mafia, Steve Christie, and the bar was full. … Everyone was in a great mood; most importantly, the Bills won.”
Buffalo Bills fans around the country have a proven track record of philanthropy, often donating money to the favorite charities of various NFL players. One of the organizers of the local fan club is married to a member on the board of Teton Habitat, so it made sense to put all the pieces together for this event. Many folks around the state cheer for the Buffalo Bills since quarterback Josh Allen joined the team after playing for the University of Wyoming.
