A GoFundMe page for a holiday toy drive organized by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin saw a sudden surge in donations on Monday night.
Hamlin collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. At 8:55 p.m. ET, Hamlin tackled the Bengals' wide receiver, Tee Higgins, got up, took a step, and fell over.
Hamlin was taken to a local hospital and is in critical condition, per a Monday night statement from the NFL.
Within an hour of his collapse, donations started pouring in to the 2020 GoFundMe page for Hamlin's charity platform, The Chasing M's Foundation. Per the description on the page, Hamlin was raising funds to buy toys for underprivileged children.
As of around 10 p.m. on Monday, the page's total donations stood at around $74,000. By 11:20 p.m. ET — within three hours of Hamlin's collapse — the page had raised over one million dollars in donations from more than 41,000 people, far exceeding its $2,500 goal.
At 12:55 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the GoFundMe had raised over $2.3 million from more than 92,000 people. And at 2:19 a.m. ET, the fundraiser crossed the $3 million mark, comprising donations from more than 119,000 people.
Top donations include $1,000 each from 14 anonymous donors, and $5,000 from a donor called "Fan Of Damar." Other people left notes of encouragement for Hamlin and prayers for his safety.
"Prayers for Damar Hamlin. Hoping for the best outcome, and if possible a return to normality for this young man," read a message from a donor named Brian Berry, who gave $50 to the fundraiser on Monday.
On December 14, 2020, Hamlin wrote on the GoFundMe page that he is committed to using his platform to make a positive impact on the community that raised him.
"If you are not able to contribute monetarily, you can support this initiative in other ways. We are accepting donated toys at the Daycare Center or simply spread the word by sharing this fundraiser on your social channels," Hamlin wrote.
"Thank you so much for supporting me on and off the field. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with you to help make the holiday season a little brighter for the kids in our community," he added.
A representative for GoFundMe told Insider the fundraiser is verified and legitimate, and will benefit The Chasing M's Foundation.
We're grateful for the kindness, generosity and empathy our giving community shows every day, especially in moments like these, as seen in the fundraiser raising more than $2 million this evening," a GoFundMe representative told Insider on Tuesday.
Representatives for The Chasing M's Foundation did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
January 3, 2:19 a.m. EST: This story has been updated to reflect the most recent donation total.
