Luke Bryan stepped away from his sold-out concerts and the American Idol judges’ table on Tuesday to support a cause that’s especially close to his heart — The Brett Boyer Foundation.

Teaming up with Raising Cane’s owner and founder Todd Graves, Luke Bryan made a special appearance at Raising Cane’s in Franklin, Tenn. to celebrate a $1,000,000 donation from Raising Cane’s to The Brett Boyer Foundation. The foundation, which Bryan co-founded alongside his wife Caroline and her brother and sister-in-law, Bo and Ellen Boyer, was established in 2017 in loving memory of Bryan’s niece, Sadie Brett Boyer. Diagnosed before birth with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect (CHD), Brett brought joy and light to everyone around her during her seven inspiring months of life. Her legacy lives on through the foundation’s mission to fund CHD research, support CHD-affected families and care providers, and celebrate the Down syndrome community.

While on site, Bryan spoke about the “tremendous” opportunity to work with Graves on this donation and how it will directly impact the foundation and the important work that it’s doing. 

“I’ll tell you what’s really special about this is… I’ve watched our foundation grow with people behind the scenes helping, and then people like Todd and Raising Cane’s. And I know that the people in the office at the Brett Boyer Foundation are working tirelessly. This million dollar support goes directly to families that are dealing with kids that have congenital heart disease,” he explained. “I mean there’s always charities that you give to and you’re like, ‘Well, where is that going?’ The fact that we can build this from a really special place…I guess a couple months ago I knew we had 36 kids that are alive because of us today. And then in 10 years there may be hundreds if not thousands of ’em.” 

Bryan pointed out that “congenital heart disease in children is something that just doesn’t really get talked about as much” and shared his hopes to continue to bring awareness to the disease through his support of the foundation and the work it continues to do. 

“I hear my sister-in-law and I hear all the people [at The Brett Boyer Foundation]. They know hearts like Todd knows chicken and I know country music songs,” he pointed out. “So it’s just been fun watching them grow and really branch out and bring a lot of awareness to what this is.” 

Bryan and Graves struck up a friendship after the country star invited him to his farm for the Red Bird Games, a fundraiser for the foundation. As Graves learned more about the foundation and its ongoing efforts to improve the outcomes for others with CHD, he felt compelled to make a greater impact by committing $1 million to the foundation, to be paid in $250,000 installments over four years. 

“Luke and I became friends when I would go out to his farm and meet his friends and family. It’s amazing to see what he and his family have done with The Brett Boyer Foundation by taking something so tragic and turning it into something so beautiful, having already saved 36 lives and many more to come,” Graves shared. “I want Cane’s to organically be involved in every community we’re in and I asked Luke, ‘how can I support you?’ and The Brett Boyer Foundation was one of those things. I believe God made me good at Chicken Fingers to help people and we’re using our resources, exposure, and a collab with Luke to collectively get the word out about this Foundation, raise awareness for CHD and celebrate the Down Syndrome community.”

In honor of the $1,000,000 donation, Bryan served fans from behind the counter and in the drive-thru, serving up smiles and chicken as he personally handed out meals, posed for photos, and shared heartfelt moments with guests who came out to support the cause.

To learn more about The Brett Boyer Foundation and its mission, click HERE.

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