Jennie-O Turkey Store teamed up with MrBeast, a popular YouTube star, and his 501c3 Beast Philanthrophy organization to make the November 25 Thanksgiving holiday in the United States a little brighter for those in need in the Greenville, North Carolina area. While the event officially started at noon, miles of cars filled with families and friends were already lined up at dawn to ensure they received one of 10,000 free Jennie-O frozen turkeys.
With a value of $266,000, this was the single largest donation in the Willmar, Minnesota-headquartered company’s 80-year history and equates to 120,000 servings of turkey.
The giveaway took place at the Pitt County Fairgrounds and drew almost 700 volunteers, including local police officers and football players, lacrosse players and sorority members from East Carolina University, as well as elected officials and other community members. Elektro Dance Academy, a high-caliber dance academy founded by four original Elektrolytes members (winners of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 7), taught the Jennie-O Turkey Dance to volunteers and onsite police officers.
Because it wouldn’t be a MrBeast event without a challenge, Darren Margolias, Beast Philanthropy executive director and MrBeast channel regular, competed with former Food Network Chopped champion, Chef Kenneth Temple, on the best-looking turkey plate.
With more than 100 million subscribers on his combined channels, MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is a Greenville native and ranked as one of the world’s largest YouTube celebrities. Known for stunts such as giving away $1 million and adopting every animal in a shelter, MrBeast has focused on philanthropy from his earliest days online. He created Beast Philanthropy exactly a year ago, and the channel donates 100 percent of its advertising revenue, brand deals and merchandise sales.
“Jennie-O is thrilled to partner with MrBeast, who shares our commitment to giving back to the community,” said Nicole Behne, vice president of marketing at Jennie-O. “Every family should be able to enjoy a delicious turkey on Thanksgiving, and we’re honored to be able to provide for thousands of families in need.”
“We fed thousands of families with this event, and none of this would have happened without Jennie-O,” Donaldson said. “It’s incredible seeing brands joining Beast Philanthropy’s mission to tackle food insecurity. Literally tens of thousands of people are going to have a free turkey on their table because of our distribution, and that’s awesome.”
