Damar Hamlin’s basketball game at North Allegheny benefits his charity

Football player Damar Hamlin hosted a celebrity basketball game June 8 at North Allegheny Senior High School, drawing in big names and hundreds of fans, with sales supporting the Chasing M’s Foundation, his charity.

The Buffalo Bills safety, who originally is from McKees Rocks, led the night’s Blue Team to victory, including making the winning shot in the last seconds of the game.

“It was a packed house, more than 900 tickets sold for charity. Families drove in from Buffalo,” said Kelley Denny, spokesperson for Hamlin. She said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was among those in attendance.

Hamlin’s team featured players and celebrities Gillie Da Kid, Omari “Ghost” Hardwick, Miles Sanders, Tyler Boyd, Cam Johnson, Dejuan Blair, Flavor Flav, Jaden Newman, Dane Jackson, “Hot Shot” Swanson and Dion Dawkins. On the Red Team were Aaron Donald, Brandon Marshall, Seddy Hendrinx, Julian Newman, Micah Hyde, Jenna Bandy, Trae the Truth, Geno Stone, Siran Neal, Quintin Morris, and Jason “Buckets” Barrera.

North Allegheny athletic director Bob Bozzuto said he was contacted recently about Hamlin using the gym for the game, but it happened pretty quickly. He thinks they used the NA gym because of its size.

“Our gymnasium is huge,” Bozzuto said.

This was one of four events that Hamlin hosted June 8 and 9 to benefit the Chasing M’s Foundation, give back to his hometown and connect with youth, Denny said. Other events included his annual youth football camp, which involved more than 400 youngsters; an All-Star Football game in Pittsburgh to recognize high school athletes; and the Chasing M’s CPR Tour.

Hamlin created the Chasing M’s Foundation while attending the University of Pittsburgh. As described in a 2023 article in The Athletic, “The M stands for millions, but it wasn’t just about money; it was about pursuing life dreams.”

He also has a Chasing M’s clothing brand.

Hamlin partnered with Highmark and Allegheny Health Network to host the CPR Tour event in Mellon Park as part of the Pittsburgh Juneteenth Youthfest.

During the course of the weekend, 300 people received Hands-Only CPR training through their work with the American Heart Association.

“Damar looks forward to this opportunity to connect with the kids and lift up Pittsburgh each year,” Denny said. “He encouraged the kids to take the time to learn CPR, calling it a superpower that allows any one of us to be ready to save a life. His charity also gave $50,000 worth of AEDs to under-resourced youth sports organizations and community groups.”

Since experiencing cardiac arrest in the middle of a Monday Night Football game in January 2023, Hamlin has launched his CPR Tour in cities such Cincinnati, Buffalo and London, as well as at the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, to help save lives.

CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, according to the American Heart Association. Hands-only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Following the cardiac arrest of a teen or an adult, compression-only CPR can be as equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response.

Hamlin’s charity has donated hundreds of AEDs to underserved communities, launched a scholarship program and held community events to give back to youth and inspire people facing adversity, according to Chasing M’s Foundation.

For more information, visit chasingmsfoundation.com.