The Pennsylvania native launched Chasing Millions, a clothing apparel line that raises money to purchase toys for underprivileged children in his hometown of McKees Rocks. Hamlin’s charitable organization received an outpouring of support and donations following the 24-year-old’s collapse on the field during a Jan. 2 football game, as Blavity covered. Due to the tremendous amount of money fans gave, Hamlin’s toy drive GoFundMe campaign has reached over $9 million in fundraising.

Hamlin was one of five players nominated for the NFL’s Alan Page Community Award, and he won. Although he is doing well as he recovers from cardiac arrest, which he experienced over a month ago, no one expected him to be at the award ceremony. But, to everyone’s surprise, he graced the stage to receive the award and share a heartwarming message.

“First and foremost, I just want to say thank you,” he started his acceptance speech. “I just thank God for being here. Thank the other guys who are nominated for the award as well who did the work in their communities alongside of me as well. Giving back to my community has been a big part of who I am. I’m thankful to my father who is right here behind me for. Growing up just watching him do community days in our community, I was just always waiting on my time when it came. One of my favorite quotes is ‘it’s a blessing to be a blessing.'”

Damar Hamlin is here in Phoenix to accept the Alan Page Community Award and give his speech: pic.twitter.com/2OeUH1lBKA

— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) February 8, 2023

More good news has come for the Buffalo Bills safety from Dr. Thom Mayer, the lead doctor of the NFL’s player association. On a recent episode of Sirius XM’s Heart to Heart radio show, he shared that Hamlin could step on the field again, according to the Huffington Post.

“I don’t want to get into HIPAA [privacy] issues, but I guarantee you that Damar Hamlin will play professional football again,” Mayer said.