Do It For Gary
Some people leave an impression on everyone they meet. They inspire others not because life was easy for them, but because of how they faced life’s greatest challenges. Gary Powers was one of those people.
Gary was a loving brother, family member, friend, and proud member of the Buffalo community. He was known for his infectious personality, his loyalty to those he loved, and his determination to overcome any obstacle placed in his path. When Gary was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and devastating forms of brain cancer, he approached the fight the same way he approached every challenge in life—with courage, strength, and an unwavering belief that tomorrow was worth fighting for.
Despite the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that come with a Glioblastoma diagnosis, Gary continued to inspire those around him. His resilience became a source of strength for family, friends, caregivers, and even complete strangers who followed his journey.
While Gary’s battle eventually came to an end, his spirit did not.
His legacy lives on through the Gary Powers Foundation.
Founded by the Powers and Ross families, the Foundation was created with one mission: to ease the burden faced by families affected by Glioblastoma while helping advance the search for better treatments and ultimately a cure.
Every day, families across the country hear the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have Glioblastoma.” In an instant, lives change forever. Families are forced to make impossible decisions while navigating a complex healthcare system, mounting medical bills, travel expenses, lost wages, and the emotional weight of caring for a loved one fighting for their life.
Too often, these families face these challenges alone.
The Gary Powers Foundation exists to ensure they don’t have to.
Our Mission
The mission of the Gary Powers Foundation is to provide hope, financial assistance, support, and resources to individuals and families affected by Glioblastoma while advancing research efforts aimed at finding more effective treatments and ultimately a cure.
We believe that every family deserves access to support, every patient deserves dignity, and every researcher deserves the resources necessary to pursue breakthroughs that can save lives.
Research and Innovation
Glioblastoma remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat, with limited treatment options and survival rates that have changed little over the past several decades.
The Gary Powers Foundation is committed to supporting physicians, scientists, hospitals, and research institutions that are dedicated to changing that reality.
Through grants, partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and community engagement, we seek to contribute to promising research projects focused on:
- Innovative treatment options
- Clinical trials
- Immunotherapy advancements
- Early detection methods
- Quality-of-life improvements for patients
- Long-term survivorship research
Every dollar invested in research represents another opportunity to bring hope to families currently facing this disease.
Financial Assistance
A cancer diagnosis affects far more than a patient’s health.
Many families experience a significant loss of income while simultaneously facing increased medical expenses. Travel costs, lodging, medications, home modifications, and everyday household expenses can quickly become overwhelming.
The Gary Powers Foundation provides financial assistance to qualifying families to help offset these burdens and allow them to focus on what matters most—time with their loved ones and access to the care they need.
Our goal is not only to provide financial relief but also peace of mind during an incredibly difficult chapter of life.
Travel and Family Support
Access to specialized treatment often requires extensive travel. Patients and families may need to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach experts and treatment centers offering the best available care.
The Foundation seeks to assist families with:
- Transportation costs
- Hotel accommodations
- Meals during treatment travel
- Family visitation support
- Recovery and respite opportunities
- Special experiences and memory-making trips
We believe that creating meaningful memories and keeping families together during treatment is every bit as important as the treatment itself.
Community Awareness
Awareness drives action.
The Gary Powers Foundation is dedicated to educating communities about Glioblastoma, sharing patient stories, promoting early advocacy, and encouraging public support for research initiatives.
Through events, media partnerships, social media campaigns, educational outreach, and community engagement, we strive to shine a brighter light on a disease that often receives less attention and funding than many other cancers.
The World’s Largest Tailgate
Our signature fundraising event, the World’s Largest Tailgate, is more than a celebration of Buffalo pride—it’s a movement.
Each year, thousands of supporters gather to enjoy great food, entertainment, community spirit, and a shared commitment to helping families affected by Glioblastoma.
The event serves as the Foundation’s primary fundraiser and awareness campaign, bringing together businesses, sponsors, volunteers, and community leaders who share our vision.
Every sponsorship secured, every ticket purchased, every raffle entered, and every donation made directly impacts families fighting for their lives.
Together, we are proving that a community united by compassion can create meaningful change.
Building a Legacy
The Gary Powers Foundation is not just about honoring Gary’s memory. It is about carrying forward the values that defined his life—strength, resilience, generosity, and hope.
We envision a future where no family faces Glioblastoma alone.
A future where groundbreaking research leads to better outcomes.
A future where families receive the support they need when they need it most.
A future where Gary’s legacy continues to inspire thousands of people to keep fighting.
Until that day comes, we will continue our mission.
We will continue to raise awareness.
We will continue to support families.
We will continue to fund research.
And we will continue to ask our community to stand with us.
Because this fight is bigger than any one family.
And because Gary would never stop fighting.