Taylor Visits PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School to Honor Alison Barone
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor visited the classroom of 2016 Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank Touchdown for Teachers grand prize winner Alison Barone of PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School in Buffalo, NY.
The eighth annual M&T Bank Touchdown for Teachers program honored Barone among a group of Western New York teachers named as finalists for their outstanding service to their schools and communities. Honorees were chosen based on their amount of involvement in the school or community, degree of positive impact on the school or community and their demonstrated commitment to education.
Barone was nominated for Touchdown for Teachers by fellow colleagues, former students and parents. At PS 43, a public school on Buffalo’s East Side, she is revered for her efforts to raise funds to purchase fitness equipment when the city lacked funding. Outside the gymnasium, Barone serves as a member of Girls on the Run (GOTR) Buffalo, an afterschool program teaching young girls life skills, and Blondes vs. Brunettes, an annual powder puff football game that raises awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY.
She was described by her nominators as a model teacher who thrives on making others see the beauty and power to achieving personal success, and a team player who has the leadership of a quarterback and determination of a linebacker.
“So many teachers across Western New York play huge roles inside their classrooms and also in our community. We’re honored to be able to use our long-standing partnership with the Buffalo Bills to support this fun way to shine a spotlight on hard-working educators like Alison Barone who dedicate so much of their time doing extra work serving our local students and community,” said Brad Dossinger, M&T Bank Vice President and Community Reinvestment Act Officer.
“This year we received the largest number of nominations to date which continues to prove that this community has a vast number of outstanding educators.” said Erica Muhleman, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Pegula Sports and Entertainment. “The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank take pride in being able to honor all of our finalists and a special congratulations to Alison, our 2016 M&T Bank Touchdown for Teachers winner.”
The Bills and M&T Bank are proud to award Barone with a $2,000 grant to PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School, and Taylor’s in-class visit. The Bills and M&T Bank also provided four additional Touchdown for Teachers finalists $500 in grant funds to use towards furthering their impact on their schools and communities.
