ST. PAUL, Minn. — Can you believe Camryn Bynum used to be the shy, quiet one of five siblings?

Tough to imagine that now, watching the Vikings safety week after week make big plays and execute elaborate celebrations that more than once have gone viral.

But it's true, his mother Jen Bynum says now, laughing as she watches Cam and his younger sister belt out a karaoke song for the audience.

Cam helped host the third annual "Filipino Fiesta" last week as a fundraiser for the Bynum Faith Foundation. He and his family established the nonprofit to provide aid and holistic relief to underprivileged communities across the United States and the Philippines by means of food distribution and psychological first aid to disaster victims, helping rebuild homes, distributing educational supplies, and inspiring youth in athletic activities.

In 2022, 69 people attended the Filipino Fiesta; this year, more than 340 came to the St. Paul Event Center to not only meet Cam and celebrate Filipino culture but also to support a cause deeply important to the entire Bynum family.

"It's just humbling to see all this support," Jen said. "It's such a blessing to see people come and just share their love."

Cam echoed his mom, expressing gratitude that people would not only donate their time but also their finances to support the foundation.

"Every single dollar that we raise goes to [the Philippines], so seeing people showing up, understanding that's where their money is going, it really just touches my heart," he said. "And seeing the excitement people have to spend time with us, have a fun night and really be able to [immerse] themselves in Filipino culture."

Bynum was recognized by the NFL Players Association as the Week 15 Community MVP.

Guests were able to enjoy a Filipino meal catered by Kusina, watch traditional Filipino dances performed by members of the Cultural Society of Filipino Americans, and vote by applause for the winner of a karaoke contest. They also were able to view video recaps of the foundation's time in the Philippines last summer, during which the Bynums hosted youth football camps and served communities in need.

A second video introduced guests to Leyte, the eighth-largest island in the Philippines. Primarily a fishing community, Leyte's residents face immense challenges of poverty and are forced to use tiny, poorly crafted or dilapidated boats in hopes of catching enough fish to sell and sustain their families.

The Bynum Faith Foundation this year is "adopting" the community in Leyte.

"We want to basically give them everything that we're raising here; it's going straight to that project," Cam explained. "Instead of just giving them temporary needs like the food and bags of rice we pack, we want to be able to help them provide for themselves [for the foreseeable future]."

"We're going to buy boats for the whole village, so they can create [and maintain] jobs for themselves," he continued.

With a donation of $1,000, Cam noted, a new boat could be gifted to a family in Leyte.

Bynum Faith Foundation also will continue hosting its youth football camps and spreading exposure to the sport throughout the Philippines.

"Especially with the Olympics having flag football in 2028," Cam explained, "We want to be able to bring the Philippines, and you really engage the whole country … by building the game there — teaching and coaching and supporting."

Cam currently is focused on the Vikings defense and pursuing ultimate postseason goals. But when the time comes, he's excited to return to the Philippines and continue making an impact on the communities there.

"Everyone who attended our event, they know they're going to bless a lot of people's lives," he said. "And that's really our main goal in everything — to show the people in the Philippines when we go back there this summer, 'You have a lot of people supporting you guys in the States.' "

Bynum also hosts holiday shopping event

Bynum has a deep passion for the Philippines, but he also continues to make an impact here in the Twin Cities.

In addition to his Filipino Fiesta, he hosted a holiday shopping event for high school athletes and on Tuesday is partnering with Raising Canes and Boys & Girls Clubs to gift more than 2,500 bicycles to young people across 22 Minnesota cities.

"This is the community I'm in now, and I want God to use me where I am, whether in the Philippines or the Twin Cities," Cam said. "Obviously I've seen the level of poverty and help that's needed there in the Philippines, but there are still people here who need help and who need additional resources. I want to make a difference where I am."

Cam spent two hours on Dec. 2 with student-athletes living in foster care, gifting each of them $100 to shop with. He appreciated seeing them pick out things they wanted but also was impacted when several young people instead selected Christmas presents for others in their lives.

"It was really cool, like, wow — using that money to get presents for family members or for their friends," he said. "Seeing the way they reacted to receiving $100, something that [could be easy to take for granted], it really went a long way and was a special experience."