Jacksonville, FL – More than 500 Cincinnati Bengals fans have now donated to the Blake Bortles Foundation.  The fans started making donations after Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Bengals’ rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, last Sunday.  The donations total over $11,000.
The largest donation was for $500.  Among the more interesting donations, several were for $45.42 to reflect the final score of last Sunday’s game. Another popular donation amount was $7, which signified denying the Steelers of their “Stairway to Seven”. The most common donation was for $5.  Bortles wears the number 5.
Many of the gifts came with messages like, “I am making this donation to commemorate your victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who dey!” or, “I am a true Bengals fan. Thank you Blake from the bottom of my heart. WHO DEY to the Jaguars and to your great cause!” One fan noted, “Bengals Fan/Mom to 2 Autistic kids – THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!- The only thing better than seeing the Steelers beat, is watching special needs kids happy and smiling! Thank you for having a hand in both!!”
After Bengals fans started making donations to his foundation, Bortles said, “Fans are at the core of the football experience and it’s truly exciting and rewarding when they band together, regardless of the team their cheer for, to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  I greatly appreciate the support displayed by Bengals fans and they should know their support will make a difference.”
Established in 2016, the Blake Bortles Foundation supports first responders in Oviedo and Jacksonville, Florida, and partners with organizations in Jacksonville and Oviedo to help children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) lead pursue full, independent lives. For more information you can visit: www.blakebortlesfoundation.com.
Bortles and the Jaguars face the New England Patriots this Sunday in the AFC Championship game. 

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Jacksonville, FL – More than 400 Cincinnati Bengals fans have expressed their thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday by donating to the Blake Bortles Foundation.
The nearly $10,000 in contributions donated so far started to come in after the Jaguars beat the Bengals’ rival, the Steelers, 45-42. 
“Fans are at the core of the football experience and it’s truly exciting and rewarding when they band together, regardless of the team they cheer for, to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  I greatly appreciate the support displayed by Bengals fans and they should know their support will make a difference,” said Bortles, who helped lead the Jaguars to victory Sunday by throwing for 214 yards and a touchdown.
Cincinnati sports radio host Mo Egger encouraged Bengals fans through his blog, Twitter page, and during his show this week to, as he said, “pay it forward” and support the Bortles Foundation.  Earlier this year, Buffalo Bills fans donated generously to the Bengals’ Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation after Cincinnati knocked off the Baltimore Ravens, clearing the way for the Bills’ first trip to the playoffs in 17 years.