Schutt Sports and the Chasing M’s Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by Buffalo Bills safety and McKees Rocks native Damar Hamlin, today announced a partnership to outfit every player in the Sto-Rox Little Vikings Youth Sports Association with new Schutt F7 AiR Youth helmets ahead of the 2026 season.

Certor Sports, the parent company of Schutt Sports, is the Official Tackle Protective Partner of USA Football, the sport’s National Governing Body. With support from USA Football’s grants program, Schutt will now equip the full league in Hamlin’s name, a donation of approximately 100 Schutt F7 AiR Youth helmets, which earned the highest 5-star rating from the independent Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, and 60 Schutt Youth Flux shoulder pads.

McKees Rocks is a borough of roughly 6,000 residents just west of Pittsburgh, where youth football has long been a cornerstone of community life. Equipment cost remains one of the most persistent barriers to participation in leagues like it across the country, and helmets are the single largest line item most programs face.

“Being able to give back to where I started is something that means a lot to me,” Hamlin said. “I know firsthand what it means to have a community that believes in you and supports you when you’re young. I’ve been around Schutt for a long time, so being able to come together with Schutt Sports and USA Football to make sure these kids have the gear and support they need is special to me. I’m thankful to both of them for helping make this happen.”

Hamlin founded Chasing M’s in 2020 before he was drafted, and the foundation has since supported youth football camps, back-to-school and holiday drives, and community programming in McKees Rocks and greater Pittsburgh. Following his on-field cardiac arrest in January 2023, Hamlin became a national advocate for CPR training and expanded access to automated external defibrillators, work that contributed to the passage of the HEARTS Act in December 2024.

“Protecting athletes is our mission, and that mission starts at the youth level,” said Jeremy Erspamer, CEO, Certor Sports. “Damar could have taken his platform anywhere, but he brought it home. These kids are going to put on the same standard of protection we build for the NFL, in the same borough that raised him, and we’re proud to stand behind that.”

Certor Sports is funding $750,000 in annual grants awarded through USA Football’s programs to lower barriers to play and equip young athletes with essential protective gear. Since 2006, USA Football has awarded more than $23 million in grants to more than 16,000 programs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The donation is part of Certor Sports’ broader effort to bring NFL-grade safety standards to youth and varsity athletes nationwide. Certor Sports was named an Official Corporate Champion of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in a multi-year alliance spanning roughly 20,000 high schools, and this year was named the Official Tackle Protective Partner of USA Football to support youth safety initiatives, player development, and coach education.

To learn more about Schutt Sports, visit www.schuttsports.com.

ABOUT CERTOR SPORTS

Certor Sports specializes in manufacturing products under the VICIS, Schutt, and TUCCI brands. As a premier provider of athletic protective gear and high-performance apparel, Certor Sports is committed to safeguarding athletes with cutting-edge solutions. With a strong emphasis on quality and performance, Certor Sports has established itself as a trusted leader in athletic protection. To learn more about Certor Sports, visit certorsports.com.

ABOUT USA FOOTBALL

USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.

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