MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is one of the most popular YouTubers around.
He actually started his channel at age 13 doing video game reviews, but now, at age 22, he’s most famous for his elaborate (and wildly expensive) good deeds.
He’s raised and given away millions of dollars to other YouTubers, random people, and to causes close to his heart.
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This is a guy who spent money to open up a car dealership just to give away free cars for views.
Then again, he also “put millions of pennies” in his friend’s backyard just to go viral (that video has been viewed 44 million times!).
MrBeast is what some call a “junklord” creator: someone who spends tons of money on making a video with the hopes that the craziness of it all will bring in viewers.
And it works!
With over 40 million subscribers, the influencer has also been a rare force for good on YouTube. And one of his latest stunts gave over a dozen dogs a chance at a better life.
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He calls the resulting video, titled “I Adopted EVERY Dog In A Shelter,” his favorite of all time – and it took 3 full days to film.
In conjunction with Georgia’s non-profit, no-kill animal rescue, Furkids, MrBeast and his team embarked (no pun intended) on a massive marketing campaign to get every last one of the 14 dogs in residence at the crowded facility adopted into a loving home.
And they gave themselves two days to lure in the adopters.
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This all happened after the Atlanta metro-area shelter was the target of two thefts that left them hard-pressed to stay afloat.
ICYMI: After @furkidsinc was the target of two thefts, @YouTube star @MrBeastYT is stepping in to help them adopt out their dogs. pic.twitter.com/yiGQIZooDA
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) July 8, 2020
First came the billboards, paid for by MrBeast.
Then the flyers went up all over town.
They even used a box truck as a mobile ad for their good deed.
The only real challenge was making sure his team didn’t bond with and adopt all those sweet dogs first.
They were just so darn cute! And there are more than a few moments when you wonder if one of them is about to become a team “mascot.”
Those lured in by the ads weren’t just lucky enough to get a sweet dog – one woman even received 10 years worth of free dog food from MrBeast (an estimated $6000 value!).
Another couple got $5000 cash for adopting sweet Gia, who had been at the shelter for 6 whole months!
(We’re not exaggerating when we say we got a little emotional seeing the guys – and the shelter staff – say goodbye and congratulate her on being adopted.)
Even when adopters weren’t impressed (or were simply confused) by the men’s showmanship, their happiness never wavered as they celebrated every victory.
They didn’t care if people know who MrBeast is, adoption meant one less sweet dog in need.
After about a day, all of the dogs got a professional photoshoot so potential adopters could see their best sides.
And don’t worry, the shelter still gave adopters all the info they needed to make the right choice about the animals and vetted every person who inquired about the animals.
Adopters had to go through an application process just like any other adoption – they didn’t cut any corners!
Because the stunt was meant to be authentic (that is, it was the marketing campaign, not the lure of YouTube fame that was meant to bring in potential dog-owners), no one coming into FurKids knew the background story. Everyone wanted to be sure the adoptions were authentic and the pups were going to people who had given it thought and decided a dog – not a publicity stunt – was right for them.
Of course, some of the younger people that came to the shelter with their parents recognized MrBeast (even in a protective mask!). But that was only after they agreed to the adoption (but before being handed another wildly generous prize!).
While 14 dogs is a lot to adopt out in just two days, the team didn’t rush it. All the guys were excited to watch the dogs they had met get to know their potential new owners.
This might be a YouTube stunt, but it’s done with the best of intentions and with heart. (And the prizes people got are ones that will let the dogs live happier lives.)
While more hilarity and heartwarming moments ensue in the 16-minute video (paid for by the ads, by the way, so it’s hard to get too frustrated by them), you’ll have to scroll down below to see how it all works out.
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