NFL Star Damar Hamlin Funds 15 Pittsburgh Scholarships

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin knows what it feels like when someone believes in you before the world does, and now he's paying that gift forward to 15 students every year.

The McKees Rocks native returned to Central Catholic High School in Oakland on Monday to announce a scholarship program that will award $10,000 annually to current students and $5,000 to Pittsburgh area teens pursuing trade school. Each scholarship provides $1,000 toward tuition or education expenses.

Hamlin only attended Central Catholic because the Kyle B. Wilson Scholarship covered costs his family couldn't afford. The school's current tuition sits at $15,750 per year. "Someone saw something in me before the world did, and now I'm in the position to do the same," Hamlin told students gathered for the announcement.

The scholarships carry special meaning beyond financial support. They honor the 10 medical professionals and first responders who saved Hamlin's life in January 2023 when he collapsed from cardiac arrest during a nationally televised game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The moment shocked millions of viewers and sparked a national conversation about sudden cardiac arrest in athletes.

Hamlin launched the Hero Scholarship program through his Chasing M's Foundation in Cincinnati in 2024, then expanded to Buffalo in 2025. Pittsburgh marks the third city and brings the program home. "I know that all of these kids are waiting for someone to believe in them, so I know how important it is," he said.

The investment reaches beyond private school students. Five of the 15 annual scholarships specifically support Pittsburgh area high schoolers heading to trade or vocational programs, opening doors in construction, healthcare, technology and other skilled professions facing worker shortages.

Mayor Corey O'Connor, himself a 2002 Central Catholic graduate, praised Hamlin's commitment to Western Pennsylvania's next generation. "This is going to reshape Western Pa. and support individuals who want to provide a future not only for themselves, but for their families," O'Connor said.

The Ripple Effect

Hamlin's journey from scholarship recipient to NFL player to philanthropist shows how one investment multiplies across communities. The lessons he learned at Central Catholic gave him confidence beyond football, shaping him as a businessman and leader who understands that relationships and networks create real opportunity.

Now those same opportunities will reach 15 new students annually, creating their own ripples of possibility. Central Catholic Principal Jack Wallace noted that the scholarship makes education more accessible while proving that the school's impact extends far beyond its Oakland campus. Applications opened on Hamlin's website at chasingmsfoundation.org and close May 1.

Every scholarship recipient will carry forward the same message Hamlin received as a young student: someone believes in you, and that belief can change everything.