In the News: Buffalo State Grad’s Company Hits $2 Million Raised for Local Causes
Buffalo State University alumnus Del Reid, ’04, and his company 26 Shirts were featured on WKBW-TV 7 for reaching a major milestone: raising $2 million for local charities and families in need.
Reid, who graduated with a degree in computer information systems, cofounded 26 Shirts in 2013. The company sells limited-edition Buffalo-themed T-shirts as part of local fundraising campaigns, most often benefiting those with medical concerns or unexpected family emergencies. For every shirt sold, a donation is made to a specified family or charitable organization.
The WKBW segment, “26 Shirts Hits $2 Million Milestone, Changing Countless Lives in the Process,” and accompanying video featured an interview with Reid, who said he has always wanted to do positive things for the community but could never have predicted the success.
“I didn’t think I would be doing this now, still, 10 and a half years later,” Reid said. “I mean how silly would it be for me to say, ‘Oh yeah, I totally saw us reaching $2 million someday.’ I was just happy, I remember, when we hit $10,000. My mind was blown back then.”
Reid credits the community for the achievement. “It means so much just for these customers to be a part and to believe in what we do because it’s really them that are doing the good,” he said.
Reid, who is also the cofounder of the Bills Mafia movement, was the alumni speaker at Buffalo State’s Class of 2020 reunion celebration in May.
Pictured: Del Reid (left) with Amitra Wall, Buffalo State interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, at the Class of 2020 reunion celebration earlier this year.
Photo by Cheryl Gorski.
