Pictured, clockwise from top left, Elizabeth Huson, E2CCB Distance Learning Specialist and co-facilitator; Del Reid, co-founder of #BillsMafia and owner of 26 Shirts; a Digital Journalism/Government & Economics classroom at Jamestown High School; and Donna Farren, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Distance Learning Specialist and co-facilitator.
In a unique collaboration between the New York State Distance Learning Consortium (NYSDLC) and Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB), Elizabeth Huson, E2CCB’s Distance Learning Specialist, recently hosted Del Reid, co-founder of the iconic BillsMafia and owner of 26 Shirts, for an inspiring and heartwarming discussion about community, charity, and passion.
Students from two classes at Jamestown High School, Paul V. Moore High School in the Central Square School District, York High School in the York Central School District, attended the live session. Additionally, several other classrooms received recordings of the session to share with their students at a convenient time.
The Origin of BillsMafia
Del Reid’s story of starting BillsMafia is as humble and organic as the fanbase it now represents. During the Zoom conversation, Reed recounted how it all began in 2010 when the Buffalo Bills were deep in a playoff drought. After a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Stevie Johnson took to Twitter to express his frustration. Reed noted how this event unexpectedly put the Bills back in the spotlight. “Nobody ever talked about them,” he shared, recalling how Johnson’s tweet made national news.
Reid and fellow Bills fans rallied around Johnson, and what began as a light-hearted joke on social media, poking fun at NFL insider Adam Schefter, soon took on a life of its own.
“We weren’t swearing at him or being derogatory. We were just teasing him,” Reid explained, laughing as he remembered the unexpected moment when Schefter blocked a group of them on Twitter. A simple “Follow Friday” tweet referencing “Bills Mafia” later that year solidified the term, and it quickly grew into a global phenomenon, embraced by fans, media, and even the team itself.
From Jokes to Generosity
While the origins of BillsMafia were rooted in humor, Reid and his co-founders saw a greater opportunity.
“We didn’t want to make it about us,” he shared. “We wanted to unite fans and lift up other fans.”
That spirit of giving back has since become a core element of BillsMafia, with fundraising and community service initiatives at its heart.
Reid is careful not to take too much credit for the charitable focus of BillsMafia.
“We truly are just an expression of where we grew up,” he said, citing Buffalo’s reputation as the “City of Good Neighbors.”
From local benefits for community members facing hardship to larger campaigns through his company, 26 Shirts, Reid and his team have raised significant funds for families in need.
“The genesis of all this, at the center of all of this, is a lot of heartache,” Reid said solemnly, acknowledging that many of the people they help are facing some of the toughest times in their lives.
26 Shirts: A Platform for Giving
Through 26 Shirts, Reid has made a lasting impact, selling t-shirts that celebrate Buffalo sports while raising money for families and individuals facing serious medical challenges or other personal tragedies.
“We’re not a t-shirt company. We’re a fundraising company,” he emphasized, underscoring that the true purpose behind each shirt sold is to support a community cause.
Reid spoke candidly about the emotional toll of hearing about new tragedies each week but also the profound sense of purpose it brings him.
“You can’t buy the feeling that you get when you’ve made a difference in somebody’s life,” he said, explaining how that rewarding sense of fulfillment drives his efforts.
Advice for the Next Generation
When asked what advice he’d give to students or individuals thinking about their future, Reid encouraged them to embrace change.
“Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Don’t be afraid to pivot,” he advised.
Reflecting on his own journey from aspiring web developer to community leader, Reid’s message was clear — sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and it’s important to remain open to new possibilities.
Part of E2CCB’s Career Connections Program
This Zoom session was part of the Career Connections offerings through Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Distance Learning, in collaboration with Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES and the NYSDLC. These programs allow students to connect with professionals from various industries, offering them invaluable insight into potential career paths. By leveraging technology, Career Connections brings real-world experiences into classrooms, opening doors for students to explore their futures in meaningful ways.
Elizabeth Huson, Distance Learning Specialist, expressed the importance of these connections as an opportunity for students to have live interactions with professionals in a wide range of industries.
“It’s always such an honor to work with all of our connection presenters like Del,” Huson said. “The process of working with people like Del usually starts with an email that shares a little bit about Distance Learning and our Connections programs before asking for their consideration to join us as a guest for one of these conversations. I am always looking for interesting speakers for our series and am never afraid to reach out to anyone to invite people to share their experiences and expertise through our Zoom program with students all across New York State.”
As Huson and the NYSDLC continue to bring inspiring figures like Del Reid into classrooms across the state, the power of community, resilience, and generosity shines through, proving that sometimes, even the smallest jokes can lead to something truly extraordinary.
For more information about E2CCB Distance Learning, visit www.e2ccb.org
