Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s presence at Central Catholic and Pitt was so impactful that when he collapsed after making a tackle Monday night, thoughts and prayers poured into social media from several sources — people who knew Hamlin and those who knew him only as a football player.
Almost immediately after Hamlin was transported by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, people began donating to Hamlin’s The Chasing M’s Foundation that he created in 2020 to raise funds toward the purchase of toys for children in need.
The drive was run through GoFundMe, with a goal of raising $2,500 to “positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.” The fund drive had raised less than $10,000 before Monday night, but was quickly up to more than $3 million, including multiple donations of $5,000.
“I feel like it’s a duty of mine,” Hamlin told the Tribune-Review in 2021. “I watched my dad do it in many different ways growing up and I watched how everyone viewed him. I always wanted to bring my people that same feeling. It inspired me growing up. This is the main reason why I wanted to make it to the NFL, to take care of my people.”
This is the link to Damar Hamlin's toy drive fundraiser.
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) January 3, 2023
I’ll start with $100 right now.
Let’s blow it up. https://t.co/5TNuhRkv36
@Realrclark25 is amazing https://t.co/4YHYENAUpX
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 3, 2023
The thoughts and prayers of all of Bills Mafia are supporting you, Damar. ???? pic.twitter.com/lDWNAOEPX4
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
????????????????????????@HamlinIsland ????????????????????????
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) January 3, 2023
Praying, praying hard for you @HamlinIsland and your family. We all love you. #H2P https://t.co/h4OKeNJ7z5
— Heather Lyke (@Pitt_LykeAD) January 3, 2023
We join the entire city of Pittsburgh in sending our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family and the Bills organization.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) January 3, 2023
Absolutely speechless.. please pull through Damar!
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) January 3, 2023
Praying hard.. please be okay man. ????????????????????????
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 3, 2023
The game is not important.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 3, 2023
Damar Hamlin’s life is important.
Please be ok. Please.
????????
Central Catholic High School is praying for the well being and swift recovery of Damar Hamlin, ‘16 (@BuffaloBills ). May the Lord be with him and his family during this most difficult time.
— Central Catholic (@centralvikings) January 3, 2023
Hamlin collapsed during the Monday Night Football game against the @Bengals on 1-02-23. pic.twitter.com/xIT6XS8k4h
Praying for Damar and his family ???????? such a scary sight to see all that matters right now is his health and staying close to his family.
James Franklin was asked about Damar Hamlin: "Terry Smith and myself recruited him, got to know his whole family, unbelievable family and obviously we're sending our thoughts and prayers to him and the family and hoping and praying that everything is okay."
Love you 3 prayers ????????????????❤️ stay strong got your back always
— Tyler Boyd (@boutdat_23) January 3, 2023
More on Damar Hamlin:
• Pittsburgh native Damar Hamlin in critical condition after cardiac arrest during game• Troy Vincent denies NFL initially gave Bills-Bengals 5-minute warmup window after Damar Hamlin's injury
• From 2021: Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, former Pitt player, hosts toy drive in McKees Rocks
