A Journey of Perseverance: An Evening with Jim Kelly

Jim Kelly is a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who spent his entire NFL career as a Buffalo Bill. His hallmarks as a player were his accurate passing and his toughness.

Kelly grew up in East Brady, a small town in Pennsylvania, in a household that emphasized the importance of hard work and treating others with respect. He signed with the Miami Hurricanes as a fourth-string quarterback but quickly worked his way up to a starting position before he faced a career-threatening injury. Not one to back down from a challenge, he pushed on and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1983.

He led the Buffalo Bills to an unprecedented four straight AFC championships, despite his toughness being tested time and time again. He is considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League and established the Buffalo Bills as one of the NFL's most successful and dangerous offenses.

After his retirement in 1997, not only did he lose his one and only son Hunter at the age of 8 to the disease Krabbe Leukodystrophy, Jim has also survived four battles with cancer. Kelly established an organization called Hunter's Hope Foundation to raise funds to fight the fatal disease that ended his son's life. He also runs an annual football camp for kids in which he and his NFL colleagues teach leadership, sportsmanship, responsibility, and the fundamentals of football. He is also the founder of the Kelly For Kids Foundation.

At this event, Kelly will tackle the power of the four F's – Faith, Family, Friends, and Fans and what it really means to

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 7:00-8:30PM

Location: Gannon University, Yehl Ballroom, Waldron Campus Center, 628 Peach St, Erie, PA 16501

Admission:

• General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
• Preferred Seating  (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)

Additional Fees:  Amusement Tax, Processing Fee 

Parking: TBD