Luke Bryan is speaking out about a cause close to his heart. Bryan and Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves announced in Franklin, Tenn. that the fast food restaurant has committed to donating a total of one million dollars to the Brett Boyer Foundation. The nonprofit is in memory of Bryan's niece, Sadie Brett Boyer, who was seven months old when she passed away. Boyer had both a congenital heart defect and Down syndrome.
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"The Brett Boyer Foundation and all of this is really a family entity for us," the American Idol judge says. "So we really as a family make a lot of time to dedicate time to do this. A few years ago, I met Todd, and he has just been amazingly over the moon to us and the Brett Boyer Foundation. I think when you look at the blessings in country music that I've been given, and as a family we always just try to do what we can to give back, and make time for it. We miss out on some sleep. But at the end of the day, it feels good to do the right stuff."
When Bryan first got to know Graves, he had no idea that their friendship would result in such a generous donation.
"I invited Todd out to the farm a few years ago," the "Country Song Came On" singer remembers. "He was so inspired once he heard about the foundation. So that's really how we became buddies and then he so generously gave this huge donation."
Why Raising Cane's Is Donating A Million Dollars
Graves has approximately 75,000 employees. As one of the more successful fast food restaurants in the United States, there are plenty of organizations that Graves could support. But for him, helping with the Brett Boyer Foundation feels like a natural fit.
"Real success is measured by what you give back," Graves explains. "Luke and I became friends, and he said, 'Hey, come out to my farm. We're doing a fundraiser for the Brett Boyer Foundation. .... Really seeing how much care that they turned so very tragic into something so very beautiful, and to help not only kids in this area but nationally with congenital heart defects. Could you imagine having a child with that?"
Raising Cane's made their first donation of $250,000. They commit to donate a total of one million dollars in the next four years. More information on the Brett Boyer Foundation is available here.
