The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio reports that donations of $9, $31 and $56 throughout the Bengals' playoff run - representing quarterback Joe Burrow's jersey number (9), the number of years (31) since the Bengals had won a postseason game before Burrow led Cincinnati to wins against the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs, and Super Bowl LVI (56) - have bolstered the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund to more than $1.5 million.
On Friday, the relief fund reported that it topped 4,000 donors, many of them fans of the Bengals, Ohio State Buckeyes and LSU Tigers.
During the Bengals' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, Burrow wore special orange-and-green cleats with "Foundation for Appalachian Ohio," "Athens County Food Pantry," and "Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund" on them as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative.