The Buffalo Bills hosted the fourth annual Community Honors Dinner which celebrated the work being done off the field, all year long in our community by incredible volunteers, organizations, fans as well as former and current players. The event benefited the Buffalo Bills Foundation.

Here are this year's honorees:

2024 Community Quarterback presented by LECOM: Alik Matthews

The Buffalo Bills Community Quarterback Award recognizes a volunteer who exemplifies leadership, dedication, and commitment to giving back to the Western New York Community.

This year's honoree, Alik Matthews who was nominated by American Heart Association for founding CPR2You, a mobile CPR training company, bringing lifesaving skills to where they're needed most.

As a registered nurse, Matthews saves lives every day, but his goal is that everyone knows CPR.

"Our goal, my mission is to make sure everyone in our community, in the world, knows CPR," he said.

2024 Jr. Community Quarterback presented by Great Lakes Medical Imaging: Ava Wylke

Ava Wylke was named this year's Jr. Community Quarterback because she has made a positive difference in Western New York through her community service with Ronald McDonald House.

In her role, Wylke supports daily operations to ensure that families feel welcome during their most challenging times. In order to bring more awareness to Ronald McDonald House, she organized a fundraiser, in partnership with local businesses. Her efforts were featured in her community newspaper, and she raised more than $5,000 for the organization.

2024 Foundation MVP presented by BCBS: Connecting Communities in Action, Inc.

Connecting Communities in Action, Inc. was named the Bills Foundation MVP for their outstanding commitment to reducing food insecurity and improving access to care for residents in the regions where accessing healthy food can be a daily challenge.

CCA uses mobile food pantries, pop up pantries and food drop offs to bring nutritious meals to the community. Through their efforts, they have distributed over 16,000 food boxes annually and serve 8,700 hot meals through their soup kitchen.

In addition to the award, Highmark BlueCross BlueShield announced a donation of $5,000 to Connecting Communities in Action to further support their mission of providing access to food and health care in rural communities.

2024 Fans of the Year Presented by Perry's Ice Cream: Richard "Poo" Peterson and Derrick "Norm" Norman, The Chefs

A staple in the corner end zone and on the Bills Mafia tailgate scene, Poo and Norm, famously dubbed The Chefs, are known for their delicious tailgates and cheering on their Bills as Season Ticket Members for over 30 years. They were surprised by former superstar quarterback Jim Kelly with the award, including tickets to the 2025 Super Bowl.

With food as a driving force behind everything The Chefs do, Perry's Ice Cream also made a $3,000 donation to Friends of Night People, a Buffalo organization near and dear to Poo and Norm, whose mission is to feed individuals facing food insecurity.

2024 Legend of the Year: Eric Wood

The Legend of the Year Award is given to a former player who continues to demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service and philanthropic efforts. Former Bills center Eric Wood has been a fan favorite since his playing days and beyond in his retirement.

Eric knows firsthand the importance of children's hospitals and the heavy burden carried by a family who must face the serious health issues of a child. Eric founded and dedicated his charitable foundation in honor of his younger brother, Evan.

The Evan Wood Fund is a critical resource for the patients and families at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo. The funds raised have an immediate, positive impact on the comfort and care of chronically ill children and their families.

Children's Hospital is proud to partner with Eric Wood to enhance vital services provided through the Family Resource Center, Child Life and Stone's Buddies Program. The Evan Wood Fund has raised over $1.5 million through Eric's fundraising efforts and in turn has supported hundreds of families through holiday assistance, sibling appreciation events, and bereavement support.

Wood was also awarded with a $5,000 check from the Buffalo Bills for his foundation.

2024 Buffalo Bills Salute to Service Nominee: Special Teams Coordinator, Matthew Smiley

The NFL's Salute to Service Award represents the league's unwavering dedication to honoring, empowering and connecting with service members, veterans and their families. All 32 teams nominate a player, coach, staff or alumni who exemplifies those traits and the overall winner will be recognized at NFL Honors in February.

This year's nominee is Matthew Smiley, Buffalo Bills Special Teams Coordinator who served four years in the United States Air Force. Smiley spent four years in the United States Air Force as a maintenance officer, beginning his duty just months before the attacks on Sept. 11. During his time in uniform, he was deployed four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, earning the United Stated Air Force Commendation Medal for his efforts.

Since joining the Bills Smiley has continued to give back to the military community. He and his wife support New York Heroes and key holiday programs like Adopt a Family, helping veterans and their families with essential services.

2024 Buffalo Bills Community All-Stars: Tommy Doyle, Mack Hollins, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Ryan Van Demark

The Buffalo Bills Community All-Star Award recognizes players whose efforts go beyond the field, making a lasting impact in our community through their positive influence and dedication to giving back. These players demonstrate compassion, leadership and a commitment to uplifting children, families, and local organizations in Western New York.

This year, Tommy Doyle, Mack Hollins, Ja'Marcus Ingram and Ryan Van Demark were selected as our 2024 Buffalo Bills Community All-Stars.

Van Demark has shown unwavering for veterans applying to Washington, DC on the Honor Flight to honor those who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam wars. He also partnered with the American Heart Association and Buffalo public schools to teach CPR at the BPS Summit.

Tommy Doyle took his personal journey with injury to heart, connecting the children at Oishei Children's Hospital during therapy visits and showing them, what resilience looks like. He's been a constant presence at events like Crucial Catch Family Fun Night bringing smiles to countless faces.

Ja'Marcus Ingram has been a force in the community since his rookie year, attending events like Crucial Catch Family Fun Night and Play 60 to inspire families and children. As a member of the social justice committee, he's helping to shape impactful initiatives, and this month, he's releasing his own children's book to inspire future generations.

Mack Hollins continues to give back unique ways, from presenting a $50,000 grant to the Massachusetts Avenue Project to serving as a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, hosting meet and greets and even participating in bocce practice. Hollins also partnered with Crayola to reconnect a local school with its history and donated school supplies together.

These four men have participated in numerous initiatives, from serving meals at City Mission to painting nails with younger patients at Oishei, and leading food drives for a Huddle for Hunger.

2024 Buffalo Bills Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Nominee: Dion Dawkins

Considered the league's most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes NFL players who have exhibited excellence on-the-field, and whose passion to making a lasting difference extends beyond the game and has led them to leave a positive legacy in their communities.

For the third season in a row, Dion Dawkins was named the Buffalo Bills Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Dating back to his draft day in 2017, Dion embraced Buffalo the same way they embraced him on the field.

Dion has any great impact through this foundation, Dion's Dreamers. This past year his 716 Community Day in Buffalo's East Side provided over 1,000 residents with meals, haircuts, clothing and bicycles for kids. He also supported teachers in Western New York with classroom supplies and provided backpacks and essentials to students in need.

His efforts extend to youth CPR training, Play 60 events and food donations and 2000 boxes of cereal alone went to schools and community groups. Through Dion's Dreamers, he shows the power of giving back. His deep commitment to underserved communities sets the tone for future, Buffalo Bills to follow in his footsteps.

"Every day I wake up, I'm Dion. I might do things wrong, I might do things right, but I'm Dion and this community pushes me every single day to want to do better," Dawkins said.