Chip & Joanna Gaines Help Couple Adopt 2-Year-Old with Down Syndrome
It seems Chip and Joanna Gaines are at it again. What is it about this amazing couple that makes us love them more and more?
Could it be their sweet and playful relationship? Or perhaps it’s how cute they are with their kids.
Whatever their secret, one thing’s for certain — our favorite #shiplap couple hasn’t disappeared from our hearts simply because “Fixer Upper” came to an end.
In fact, you might say they’ve started their own sort of “fixer upper” program by way of “Chipstarter.” Except, this time, they’re not fixing houses.
What the Gaines are up to now is much better by far. They’re helping people who need an extra boost to achieve their dreams.
“There’s no dream or goal too big,” the Chipstarter website reads. “Whether it’s a business you want to start, a new skill you want to learn, or something that you never believed you’d accomplish — know that you are capable of extraordinary things. “
Chipstarter broke ground in 2017. When it came back for its second year in September — aka Chipstarter 2.0 — the entries started pouring in.
“The #Chipstarter entries blew our minds,” Chip wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to ALL who submitted a 2 min video.”
Next, the Gaines had to go through the plethora of entires. The finalists were contacted and the winner would be announced at Silobration, the Magnolia Market’s annual event in Waco, Texas, that bursts with vendors, food trucks, activities, music, and more!
One of the finalists was a couple from Missouri. Jason and Melinda Simmons wanted nothing more than to bring their 2-year-old son home from China.
In a fun and upbeat video, the Simmons shared with Chip about how they wished to adopt a little boy with Down syndrome. They estimated it would take about $20,000 to bring him to the United States.
The couple attended Silobration in 2017. It just so happened that Melinda’s face made a cameo in the Chipstarter 2.0 video.
“We absolutely do not believe that this is a coincidence,” Melinda said. “We do, however, believe in divine intervention.”
And so, apparently, do the Gaines. They flew Melinda and Jason to Waco for Silobration where they presented the couple with a big fat check for $16,203.
The Simmons were stunned and so grateful. They had worked so hard to raise as much as they could on their own.
“It is such a weight off of our shoulders to know where the money is coming from for this final stretch. It’s such a gift,” Melinda told Country Living.
This is certainly a happy beginning for this couple who have been married for 21 years. They and their three older children can’t wait to bring their new family member home.
As for the other finalists, it turns out they were winners, too! According to Country Living, Chip and Joanna gifted over $85,000 in total to all six finalists. What a fun surprise!
It was a phenomenal weekend for everyone involved. We can’t wait for next year and, hopefully, Chipstarter 3.0. It will definitely give us all something to “silobrate” in 2019.
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