Penn-Trafford students raise $8K for Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation

It’s not often that Penn-Trafford business teacher Kim Stefkovich is left speechless.

But when Pittsburgh native and NFL player Damar Hamlin gave her a hug and thanked her Sunday for the $8,000 donation Stefkovich’s students made to his charity, words escaped her.

“When I went up to meet him at the CPR event on Sunday, he stood up and hugged me,” said Stefkovich. “I didn’t know what to say. I was so caught off guard.”

Nearly 80 of Stefkovich’s students create and sell t-shirts and other apparel each year to learn the ropes of running a small business. Stefkovich has organized the project for nearly two decades.

“I am amazed that I’m still doing this project — that the drive and the want is still there,” she said.

Each section of the class competes to see who can sell the most items and generate the most profit throughout one semester. Students began developing their apparel and business plan in December, with sales starting in March.

But the goal is not only to be the highest seller, but also to raise money for a charitable cause.

Stefkovich selects a new charity each year for her students to support, which have included Make-A-Wish, the American Cancer Society and the Travis Mills Foundation. Last year, students raised about $11,000 for The Heyward House, a nonprofit started by Pittsburgh Steelers star Cam Heyward in 2015 to support youth programs.

Hamlin, raised in McKees Rocks, went to Central Catholic High School and played football for the Pitt Panthers from 2016 to 2020 where he started his charity — the Chasing M’s Foundation.

Hamlin was drafted as a safety to the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft.

During a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023, Hamlin, then 24, collapsed on the field and suffered cardiac arrest.

“Since experiencing cardiac arrest in January of 2023, Damar has been humbled by the outpouring of support from people all over the world,” said Hamlin’s spokesperson, Kelley Denny. “Through his charity, the Chasing M’s Foundation, he’s been focused on empowering youth, lifting up people who face adversity and raising awareness of CPR and access to AEDs to save lives.”

Stefkovich could think of no better initiative to support.

“Being a Pitt (alumnus), I had a soft spot for what Damar went through last year,” Stefkovich said. “Once that had happened, I had already decided for next year that that’s where the money would go.”

Stefkovich’s students sold more than 800 items and raised about $8,000. Her students have donated more than $130,000 to charity since she started doing the project in 2006.

Hamlin sent a video to the students to thank them for their donation and invited them to the charitable celebrity basketball game he hosted at North Allegheny Senior High School Saturday.

“Your donation to my charity is very so much appreciated,” Hamlin said in the video, “and it will go to help us change lives and raise awareness of the need to learn CPR.”

Dylan Tirpak, one of Stefkovich’s students, was excited to receive a response from Hamlin.

“It seemed like a genuine reaction, which you most of the time wouldn’t see from a celebrity,” said Tirpak, 18, of Penn Township. “You can tell he’s a real nice guy. I would love to talk to him in person.”

Tirpak, who played football for Penn-Trafford, appreciated the opportunity he and his classmates had to support Hamlin’s cause.

“CPR doesn’t even have to be used on the field. It can be used anywhere off the field,” the May graduate said. “It would just be very useful to any athlete, any kid out there to learn CPR to just have the ability to help save someone.”