Bills safety Damar Hamlin held his third annual back-to-school event at the Johnny B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion in Buffalo on Monday. The gathering, organized by Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, attracted more than 1,300 people and offered free school supplies, haircuts, food, football training, and CPR instruction.
More than 1,000 backpacks with school supplies were given to students as families participated in activities focused on community support and health education.
“To be able to provide that fresh feeling of a haircut, school supplies… kids are ready and well-equipped with all the resources that they need to be successful,” Hamlin said. “I hope they have an amazing school year.”
Hamlin has used his recovery from cardiac arrest as a way to promote awareness about CPR and the importance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This year’s event included hands-only CPR training for 250 attendees through a partnership with the American Heart Association.
“You grow through what you go through,” Hamlin said. “To be out here and be able to stop the leading cause of death in youth sports, which is sudden cardiac arrest, something that I experienced, it means a lot to me, and it gives my life purpose even further than my passion, which is football.”
He encouraged everyone to learn CPR: “You never know when you’re going to need that as a superpower to save somebody you love,” Hamlin added.
At the end of the event, Hamlin donated AEDs to both the Johnny B. Wiley Center and Buffalo’s Police Athletic League (PAL).
The event was supported by several organizations including the Buffalo Bills Foundation, American Heart Association, and Buffalo PAL. Attendees enjoyed food such as hot dogs and hamburgers along with games and a youth football clinic. Local barbers provided free haircuts for children preparing for school.
Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon commented on how the initiative benefits young people beyond just preparing them for classes.
“But more importantly, peace of mind and the knowledge that they’re ready to start the school year, ready to learn, and ready to hit the ground running,” Scanlon said. “Young people’s families are going to receive life-saving skills here today, and that’s going to make our community stronger as a whole.”
Nekia Kemp from Buffalo PAL emphasized that there was more behind this effort than simply distributing supplies.
“What Damar and the Chasing M’s organization has done goes far beyond school supplies,” she said. “Today, it’s about showing our young people that our community supports them.”
Jennifer Pratt from the American Heart Association highlighted Hamlin’s efforts in promoting CPR education.
“We are so grateful to Damar for using his powerful platform to make sure that everyone everywhere knows CPR and has access to an AED,” Pratt said. “His leadership is literally inspiring people across the country and around the globe.”
Reflecting on three years of hosting this event for local families in Buffalo motivated Hamlin’s commitment moving forward.
“Man, this is unbelievable to see how many people just came out for the support. We are just trying to show that we are here for this community,” shared Hamlin.
