UPDATE: The competition continues

Seahawks fever is still in the air! As of Jan. 24, Seahawks fans have raised more than $257,000 for UCSF Benioff. And 49ers fans have raised more than $157,000 for Seattle Children’s. Thank you 49ers fans and Seattle’s 12th man for supporting our patients and families. With the support of the community, everyone wins.

See the events leading up to this competitive, philanthropic milestone below:

In December, an anonymous Bay Area donor offered two matches of $100,000 toward both fundraising challenges.

On Jan. 14, the San Francisco 49ers organization pledged to match up to $100,000 to benefit both hospitals.

At 4 p.m. on Jan. 14, the Seattle Seahawks pledged to match up to $112,000 to benefit both hospitals.

What began as a rivalry and a billboard has led to something much bigger and more meaningful to Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers fans. The two groups have been ‘competing’ to see who can raise the most money for Seattle Children’s Hospital and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. So far, their efforts have resulted in pledges totaling more than $100,000.

“It’s really incredible,” said Seahawks fan Christopher Hart, who spearheaded the effort to raise money for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. “It feels good.”

It all started when a group of 49ers fans, led by project manager Aasheesh Shravah, raised enough money to purchase a tongue-in-cheek billboard in the Seattle area. The group needed $7,000 for the billboard; any extra donations they pledged to a Seattle-based charity. 49ers fans overwhelmingly chose Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation as their charity of choice.

Inspired, Hart set up his own funding site to benefit USCF Children’s Hospital in San Francisco and donations began pouring in for both hospitals.

“It’s been great,” said Shravah. “We would love to be able to donate double what we spent on the billboard to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.”

If you would like to make a donation to one of the sites, please visit:

http://www.gofundme.com/12thspirit

http://www.gofundme.com/Seattle-Billboard-Fund

You can also make a donation directly to Seattle Children’s by visiting: http://giveto.seattlechildrens.org/gohawks