Wesley Hamilton, of Disabled But Not Really, gets $1 million for Kansas City nonprofit
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Wesley Hamilton, the founder of Disabled But Not Really, received a $1 million donation to go toward his Kansas City nonprofit on Wednesday.
Hamilton, who survived a shooting that left him paralyzed from the waist down in 2012, was awarded the funds for his nonprofit during a segment on Good Morning America. Disabled But Not Really aims to help those in the disabled community to achieve healthier bodies, minds and lives.
The award was gifted by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, a California-based organization which supports programs and research that help those affected by spinal cord injuries.
“They heard about you, and they’ve been following you and they love your story and what you’ve done,” T.J. Holmes, a GMA anchor, told Hamilton. “This is real, for you to continue your work.”
Hamilton, who was featured in season four of “Queer Eye,” said he hopes to use some of the money to invest in his mobile gym.
“It’s always about the people that we’ve been serving,” Hamilton said. “I’m just grateful. I don’t have a lot of words right now. This doesn’t seem real. But it gives my people hope, and that’s all I wanted.”
Hamilton wiped his eyes, a piece of confetti stuck to his head, thanking the group for following his journey. His mother and daughter also joined him for the surprise.
“I’m living my purpose, and everybody’s seeing that,” he said. “Follow your dreams despite the circumstances that happen to you.”
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 1:51 PM.
