At the end of August, a little bit of football magic circled back to Roswell Park in the form of a generous gift from the Andy and JJ Dalton Foundation.
JJ Dalton visited the Katherine, Anne and Donna Gioia Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center on August 26 to announce their donation of an electronics Hub to Roswell Park’s pediatric department.
The Hub is filled with tablets, Kindles, virtual reality headsets and gaming consoles to help keep kids and their families entertained during hospital visits. JJ and Andy know kids love this kind of distraction and wanted to help out at Roswell Park.
Andy, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, developed a sudden and surprising relationship with Buffalo back in January.
After his last-minute, game-winning throw in the Bengals’ final game of the 2017 season — which also happened to end Buffalo’s 17-year playoff drought — Buffalo fans responded by giving more than $450,000 to the Dalton Foundation in gratitude. Andy and JJ were so awestruck by this outpouring of generosity that they determined to keep the cycle going and give back to the City of Good Neighbors.
“We knew immediately, once the funds started coming in, that we wanted to do something,” said JJ, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to partner with Roswell Park.
To put the icing on the cake, Andy made a surprise visit during the presentation, signing autographs and posing for photos, to the glee of the Courage of Carly Fund kids — and many grown-ups — who were there.
Founded in 2011, the Andy & JJ Dalton Foundation seeks to provide opportunities, support and resources, along with live-changing experiences, to seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families in Cincinnati and Fort Worth, Texas.
