“He started that GoFundMe actually when he was in college himself, and he didn’t have the money for a toy drive himself,” Rooney said Tuesday during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
His most recent toy drive, the third annual, was during an off day in December, and Hamlin went to his hometown of McKees Rocks, outside Pittsburgh, and back to Buffalo in order to practice the next day.
“We’re doing it for the kids, having a good time,” Hamlin said in a video from the late December event.
As Bills fans and fans from across the NFL and the country looked for any way to show support, Rooney said he and Hamlin’s parents, Mario and Nina, realized the money can now go far beyond a toy drive.
The GoFundMe page had been unused for so long, Rooney was concerned that he wouldn't be able to access it.
“I had to figure out how to get the password today,” Rooney told McAfee. “We finally got into it.
"I’m excited for Damar when he sees that. That type of stuff means so much to him.”
An update to the GoFundMe shared that the foundation will support toy drives, back-to-school drives and kids camps. Hamlin looks forward to any chance to give back.
“He was just saying last week, ‘Hey Jordon, we gotta set up my camp for this summer. We gotta start sponsors for the camp,’ ” Rooney said. “We don’t need sponsors anymore.”