BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills fans are back at it again, donating to the charities of their favorite players.
This time, the Buffalove is benefitting an organization very close to the heart of rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Loren Carriere’s phone has been ringing off the hook. He’s the executive director of Hope for Opelousas, a nonprofit in Coleman’s hometown, Opelousas, Louisiana.
“At about 5:30 p.m. [Wednesday], I started getting emails. It was just donation after donation.”
After a few messages about their organization on social media went viral, Bills Mafia took it from there and has donated in bulk.
This is Keon’s favorite charity, where he himself went as a child.
— BillsMafiaBabes (@BillsMafiaBabes) May 2, 2024
We’ll be working with them officially soon, but it’d be a shame if they woke up to donations from the Mafia.😁@Hope4Opelousas #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xqA5wyGV5G
As of Thursday afternoon, the nonprofit had received more than 300 donations from WNY worth more than $3,500.
To add an extra incentive for Thursday donations, a donor in Louisiana is matching donations up to $50,000 as well.
“We’re a small organization, so as the donations were coming in, I was calling individual people that left phone numbers and had some amazing conversations with people,” Carriere said. “It’s just super cool to meet the down-to-earth people from Buffalo, because Opelousas is just like that.”
In an update on Friday morning, Hope for Opelousas announced donations had exceeded $160,000.
#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/P2e22i7BnH
— Hope for Opelousas (@Hope4Opelousas) May 3, 2024
The organization meets 100 students after school every day to help them with schoolwork, mentor them, and just give them a fun and safe place to hang out. Coleman himself grew up in this program and has shared several messages about helping them out.
“What can you tell us about Keon Coleman, the person?” 7 News reporter Derek Heid asked.
“What you experienced [Saturday] is just a normal day for Keon [Coleman],” Carriere said. “He is just going to continue to be him, show you who he is, and have fun in the process.”
This is the start of Keon Coleman's first press conference as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) April 27, 2024
Covering this man is going to be a real treat. #BillsMafia @WKBW pic.twitter.com/Hpy2TQmMvU
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Carriere said that all the profits will go to expanding the program to help even more kids growing up just like Coleman.
“We appreciate you, we thank you and look forward to building with you.”
