When the Washington Football Team eliminated the job of its longtime receptionist, former player Chris Cooley and his wife, Madi, immediately stepped in.

The Powell couple started a GoFundMe to support “Miss BJ” Blanchard and donated $1,000 to the cause.

“Miss BJ could always be counted on for a warm ‘good morning’ and a smile, and a hug when it was needed,” Madi wrote in starting the fundraiser. “She was the proudest member of the team and a die hard loyal fan and loved being a part of the Burgundy and Gold. She is one of the best people we have ever met.”

In just a week’s time, the GoFundMe has raised more than $59,000 for Blanchard. Donations have come in from many other former Washington players, including Pierre Garcon, Mark Mosely, Trent Williams, London Fletcher, Shawn Springs, Dwayne Haskins, Dustin Hopkins and Nick Sundberg.

In a piece for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation website, sports columnist Chris Russell described Blanchard as a legend, saying many players called her “the best part of working for the Washington organization.”

“... she was much more than a receptionist to all of us,” Russell wrote, saying she was “universally admired, respected and adored.”

On the GoFundMe page, Madi Cooley said the goal was to provide some security for Blanchard — who had worked for the organization for nearly three decades — and ease her mind as she moves on. Madi said it had been “so amazing” to see the strong response to the campaign, adding that she would keep the fundraiser open for a few more weeks.

“Let’s support Miss BJ and show her how much she has meant to all of us for all of these years, Madi wrote.

GoFundMe, which collects a fee from each donation, helped give the campaign a boost by promoting the effort and multiple news organizations have helped spread the word as well.

Chris Cooley played for the Washington team for nine seasons; he moved back to his hometown of Powell last year.