The Lebanese Behind Ryan Trahan's $10 Million St. Jude Fundraiser You Probably Didn't Know
The goal of Ryan, who has amassed over 21 million subscribers? Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The result? Over $11.4 million raised. $10 million more than their original goal.
Millions of people watched. Thousands donated including major brands like T-Mobile, Staple Games, Airbnb, DoorDash, Kia, and more.
And now, the internet is celebrating what's being called one of the most heartwarming and impactful YouTube series ever.
But here's what many don't know: St. Jude was founded by a Lebanese.
Danny Thomas was born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz in Michigan in 1912. He was the son of Maronite Catholic immigrants, Charles Yakhoob Kairouz and Margaret Tawk, from Deir El Ahmar, Lebanon.
He worked in television, radio, film, and music. Make Room For Daddy, which was later known as The Danny Thomas Show, is the essential part of his career as an actor. The show successfully ran for 11 years. He also recorded several Arabic folk songs in collaboration with Toufic Barham for a St. Jude Hospital Foundation fundraiser record.
Before becoming a big hit on TV, Danny Thomas was living paycheck to paycheck. The devout Christian prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, patron saint of hopeless causes, and vowed: 'If I find success, I will build you a shrine.' Shortly after, he landed a breakthrough role.
That promise led to him founding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis in February 1962, with a mission that no child should die in the dawn of life – and that no family would ever receive a bill – not for treatment, travel, housing, or food. It would be 100% donation-funded. And that's exactly what it still is today.
Ryan and his wife, Haley, traveled across America for 50 straight days, staying in unique Airbnbs in every state – from treehouses and tiny homes to farm stays and desert domes. Each day, they posted a video and linked back to the fundraiser for St. Jude.
The campaign started with a goal of raising $1 million. It blew past that in days. And in true Ryan fashion, it was wholesome, hilarious, and emotional all at once.
Danny Thomas' legacy inspired one of the most trusted medical institutions in the world, where breakthroughs in treating childhood cancer have saved millions of lives.
Since opening its doors in 1962 with just 125 staff and a $1 million annual budget, St. Jude has helped push childhood cancer survival rates from about 20 % to around 97% today.
The hospital continues to treat children from nearly 70 countries, always free of charge.
The Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL) is affiliated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so if you're looking to extend the support, consider donating to them.
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