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Lifestyle & Human Interest

Chip and Joanna Hand Over $1.5 Million Check to St. Jude Children's Hospital

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The “Fixer Upper” couple is at it again. Chip and Joanna Gaines have been known to be more than a little generous toward those in need.

Chip’s annual “Chipstarter” program helps individuals or families reach their dreams. In 2018, he and Joanna helped a couple adopt a child with Down syndrome through this program.

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The HGTV veterans are also behind the Magnolia Foundation, an organization that aims “to provide restoration to the most vulnerable children and families,” according to its website.

Now the kindhearted couple from Waco, Texas, has put their heads, hands and funds together to give St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital a little extra love and care.

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Chip and Joanna raised funds through a social media campaign — appropriately named the #ChipInChallenge — and presented the Memphis, Tennessee, hospital with a $1.5 million check on June 19, People reported.

The donation will go toward long-term housing for the families of St. Jude patients. Target House provides a place the families can stay, free of charge, while their children are receiving much-needed care.

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But Chip and Joanna didn’t stop there. They knew they wanted to do more for the families who stay at Target House, so they did what they do best: They “fixed up” the outdoor space and donated a playhouse they designed themselves.

“When we heard that the space outside of Target House could use a little love, we knew right away that we wanted to create a sweet playhouse for the kids to enjoy,” Joanna told People.

“There’s something so special about spending time together outside and while we’re hopeful that these families will not have to stay here for very long, we wanted to create a retreat for them to explore while they are here.”

The life-size playhouse offers all sorts of fun for the residents including a floral archway, a play kitchen and even a pretend dining area with plastic food.

“When we were designing this playhouse, we knew we wanted it to feel whimsical and fun,” Joanna said.

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“That was the inspiration behind details like the colorful flowers in the flower boxes and the sweet kitchen area. Our hope is that this space brings a bit of joy to the families here.”

The funds came together with help from other celebrities, too. Jennifer Lopez, Kacey Musgraves and Alex Rodriguez were reportedly among those who helped “Chip in.”

Joanna wrote on Instagram that she and Chip left St. Jude “feeling changed forever. The beautiful kids and families here carry such strength and hope, and we were honored to spend the day with them.”

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Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.
Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.

Sarah's experience as a successful working stay-at-home mom and business owner has given her the chance to write and research often. She stays up to date on the latest in entertainment and offers her views on celebrity stories based on her wide knowledge of the industry. Her success as a former preschool teacher and licensed daycare provider lend to her know-how on topics relating to parenting and childhood education.

Her thoughts on faith and family issues stem from home life and ministry work. Sarah takes time to attend workshops and classes annually that help her to improve and hone her writing craft. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature program and her writing has been acclaimed by ACFW and ECPA.
Education
Institute of Children's Literature, Art Institute of Phoenix (Advertising), University of California Irvine (Theater), Snow College (Early Childhood Education)
Location
Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith




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