Todd Graves, the CEO and founder of the fast food chain Raising Cane’s, has pledged $1 million to country singer Luke Bryan’s charity, The Brett Boyer Foundation.
On Tuesday, Graves presented the “American Idol” judge with a novelty check during a special event at the new Raising Cane’s location in Franklin, Tennessee.
The businessman committed to giving Bryan’s organization $250,000 annually over the next four years. He also let the singer get behind the counter and the drive-thru window to serve customers some of the restaurant’s fare, including its signature chicken fingers.
The “Country Girl” singer and his wife, Caroline, along with her brother and sister-in-law, Bo and Ellen Boyer, co-founded the nonprofit in 2017.
The organization was created in memory of the couple’s daughter, Sadie Brett Boyer, who was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. She succumbed to the disease when she was just 7 months old.
“We were so excited to have Caroline and Luke Bryan, Brett’s aunt and uncle, who started this foundation with us, to join with Todd and Gwen Graves and the whole team at Raising Cane’s to help us promote more CHD awareness.”
Bo and Ellen Boyer have two other children. Their son Wells was born in August 2018, and their daughter Lottie was born in March 2021.
“This campaign is going to run at their almost 900 stores,” Ellen Boyer said.
“So our hope and our prayer is that more heart families will know that they are loved and supported and that there’s a whole group of people here at the Brett Boyer Foundation fighting for more congenital heart disease research.”
Raising Funds With Raising Cane’s
Bryan and Graves became friends after the country singer invited the businessman to one of his foundation’s annual fundraisers, according to Music Mayhem. Bryan and his wife host the charity events, called “Red Bird Games,” at their 150-acre farm outside of Nashville.“I invited Todd out to the farm a few years ago, and he was so inspired once he heard about the Foundation,” Bryan said on Tuesday during the press conference in Franklin. “So that’s really how we became buddies, and then he so generously gave this huge donation.”
In turn, Graves praised Bryan for all he has worked to accomplish through his nonprofit.
“It’s amazing to see what he and his family have done with The Brett Boyer Foundation by taking something so tragic and turning it into something so beautiful, having already saved 36 lives and many more to come,” the Raising Cane’s founder shared.
“I want Cane’s to organically be involved in every community we’re in, and I asked Luke, ‘How can I support you?’ and The Brett Boyer Foundation was one of those things,” Graves continued.
“I believe God made me good at Chicken Fingers to help people, and we’re using our resources, exposure, and a collab with Luke to collectively get the word out about this Foundation, raise awareness for CHD, and celebrate the Down Syndrome community.”
The Brett Boyer Foundation is just one of the many charities that Raising Cane’s supports.
In January, the fast food chain donated $250,000 in net proceeds to the American Red Cross to aid those impacted by the devastating wildfires that ravaged Southern California. Raising Cane’s also collaborated with local organizations in affected cities, such as Malibu, Pasadena, and Altadena, to provide meals to firefighters and volunteers working on the frontlines.
“Our deeply rooted support of our Community only gets stronger with time, and we look forward to supporting your next Community event or organization need.”
