Morgan Foss
Growing up on a cattle farm in Alden, New York, a rural community 30 minutes east of Buffalo, gave Morgan Foss G鈥�20 an understanding of agriculture, food production and life on a farm.
The master’s degree in聽public relations Foss graduated with from the gave her a strong foundation of communication, writing, relationship-building and strategic thinking.
Today, she puts it all together as program manager for the Buffalo Bills Foundation, the nonprofit arm of her hometown football franchise. The foundation supports a wide breadth of initiatives dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Western New York region, but its primary focus is addressing child hunger, food access and supporting healthy eating.
鈥淏uffalo is the sixth most segregated metropolitan region in the country and 1 in 5 children鈥�1 in 8 people overall鈥攁re food insecure,鈥� Foss says, illuminating the importance of her work with the foundation. 鈥淭here are many food deserts within the city and in surrounding communities, despite there being many agricultural areas, like where I grew up.鈥�
The supports several nonprofit organizations and programs that uplift the food system and provide healthy foods to underserved families. Foss is one of three employees who liaise with the foundation鈥檚 board of directors to respond to funding requests and direct resources to the many hunger-fighting organizations doing the work.
鈥淭he Bills organization has such a large platform and influence in the Western New York region. So in this position, I can connect the community鈥檚 needs with resources and bring awareness to specific causes.鈥�
While Foss was always drawn to nonprofit and community-based work, she went to Newhouse intent on entering entertainment public relations after completing an undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama.
In the spring of 2020, she was planning to visit Los Angeles for the entertainment immersion experience and was pursuing an internship in Nashville with Sony Music Entertainment, and then 鈥� we all know what happened next.
Foss (left) and Buffalo Bills Foundation president Thomasina Stenhouse, Ph.D., visit the Providence Farm Collective, an Orchard Park-based organization that cultivates farmer-led and community-rooted agriculture and food systems.
鈥淎ll of a sudden I was finishing up my master鈥檚 degree, teaching undergraduate courses online and doing a virtual internship all from my childhood bedroom while simultaneously working on my family farm,鈥� Foss says.
Not only were her personal plans put on hold, but the entire PR and entertainment industry was a question mark as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. With so much uncertainty, Foss began looking for opportunities closer to home, ultimately leading to her dream career with the Bills.
鈥淚t was a crazy time and while many businesses closed, my family farm and the agriculture industry trudged forward to ensure food was produced and stocked on shelves,鈥� says Foss. 鈥淭he pandemic certainly changed the trajectory of my career, but I鈥檓 grateful for it.鈥� She emphasizes that her experience in 2020 built life skills that have wildly benefited her career鈥攊ncluding adaptability, organization, being innovative with her time and space and the ability to build relationships through a screen.
Foss was named community relations coordinator with the Bills in 2022. Now in her third season with the organization, she has been promoted to Bills Foundation program manager, overseeing the distribution of foundation grants to nonprofits across the community.
Foss has also worked on initiatives promoting cancer awareness, military appreciation and social justice (in partnership with the National Football League鈥檚 Crucial Catch, Salute to Service and Inspire Change initiatives), as well as CPR education and AED awareness, youth sports and physical fitness and numerous other causes championed by players.
The Bills recently wrapped up their annual Huddle of Hunger Initiative, which collected over 31,000 pounds of food and raised more than $150,000 to support 20 local charities, including FeedMore WNY and its 400 hunger-relief agencies serving the four counties surrounding Highmark Stadium. 鈥淔or this year鈥檚 food drive, we had 16 rookie players and six veteran players participate and a massive turnout,鈥� Foss says. 鈥淭he Buffalo Bills players are amazing and very dedicated to the community where they play.鈥�
Foss with her partner, Tre, and son, Tino, at Bills training camp this summer
Besides the technical and interpersonal skills she developed at Newhouse, Foss says one of the best takeaways has been the group of friends and fellow alumni she connected with during the master鈥檚 program.
鈥淚 have a group chat with my best friends from the program,鈥� Foss says. 鈥淕oing through this experience together of graduating during the pandemic was unique, and we know we can count on each other to discuss our careers鈥攁reas we might want to grow in and navigating challenges or transitions. I love having peers who are on the same wavelength and seeing my friends growing and doing amazing work in their industries and their fields.鈥�
Earlier this year, Foss had her first baby, a son named Valentino鈥擳ino for short鈥攁nd returned to her role part-time for the 2024 season. She is thrilled to be back in the business of connecting the foundation鈥檚 resources and the Bills players with the people and organizations in her community doing incredible work.
鈥淛ust so far this season [in addition to Huddle for Hunger], we鈥檝e brought players to Dave and Buster鈥檚 to hang out with families affected by cancer, we鈥檝e made sandwiches and handed out food with players at St. Luke鈥檚 Missionary Church, we鈥檙e getting ready for Veterans and Native Heritage Month celebrations in November. We do a lot with different youth organizations and that鈥檚 probably my favorite part of the job鈥攋ust seeing kids light up after meeting their idol,鈥� Foss says.
To learn more about the work of Foss and the Buffalo Bills Foundation, visit .
