Donations from fellow NFL players and fans are pouring in for Damar Hamlin’s toy drive after she suffered cardiac arrest on the field during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bills’ safety remains critical and “trends positive,” his uncle Dorrian Glenn told CNN.
The GoFundMe page for the Toy Drive launched in 2020 and had an initial goal of raising $2,500, but has since surpassed $4.9 million in donations since Hamlin collapsed on Tuesday night.
One of the most recent and largest donations was $10,000. It was broadcast by none other than Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who also delivered a public message of support to Hamlin, 24.
Tampa Bay Buccaaneers quarterback Tom Brady (left), 45, donated $5,000 to Damar Hamlin’s (right) Toy Drive Tuesday, according to Bills Safety’s Go Fund Me page
Buffalo Bills players rallied around Hamlin as medics took him to the hospital after resuscitating the 24-year-old
After noticing the outpouring of support for Hamlin’s cause, Jordon Rooney — friend and marketing rep of the 2021 NFL sixth-round draft pick — said the funds raised for the Toy Drive will mean so much to the player who remains intubated.
However, his uncle said On Tuesday he only needs 50 percent oxygen.
“His family said today we can’t just go on a toy ride right now,” Rooney said. “He started this toy ride in college when he didn’t have money to do a toy ride himself.
“So someone dug this up from 2020. I had to figure out how to get the password today because there’s $3.5 million in it, but finally got in there.
“I’m happy for Damar when he sees that because things like that mean so much to him. He just spoke to me last week, “Hey Jordon, we need to set up my camp this summer, we need to start finding sponsors for camp.” We no longer need sponsors.”
Other high-profile figures who have contributed to Hamlin’s cause include former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani (1994-2001). He presented a $1,000 donation, while DropBox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi also donated $5,000 to Toy Drive.
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani (right) also donated $1,000 to Hamlin’s Toy Drive on Tuesday
Arash Ferdowsi (right), co-founder of Dropbox, donated $5,000 to the cause
American-Canadian wrestler Chris Jericho (pictured) also donated $5,000 to Hamlin’s charity
American-Canadian wrestler Chris Jericho donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe page, while the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks donated $5,000 and $1,000, respectively.
In addition to Brady, New England safety Devin McCourty also contributed to the cause. The 35-year-old donated $2,000 while two of his teammates, cornerbacks Myles Bryant and Marcus Jones, each contributed $1,000 to the fundraiser.
Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer also donated a similar amount, as did the New York Jets’ Solomon Thomas, the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle, the Denver Broncos’ Lloyd Cushenberry and the Ex-Brolls and LA Rams’ Andrew Whitworth.
In a statement Tuesday, Hamlin’s family thanked those who donated and kept the Bills players in their thoughts.
“Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers,” the statement read in part.