Raising Cane’s Helps Luke Bryan Turn Heartache Into Hope With $1M Donation

Country music icon Luke Bryan is teaming up with Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves to highlight the powerful impact of community and the importance of giving back.

On Tuesday, April 8, The Blast was on-site in Franklin, Tennessee, as the "American Idol" judge teamed up with Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves to celebrate a monumental $1 million donation to The Brett Boyer Foundation, a cause near and dear to Bryan and his family’s hearts.

The event took place at the Franklin Raising Cane’s location, just outside of Nashville, where Luke Bryan wasn’t just the guest of honor; he also rolled up his sleeves and stepped behind the counter to serve fans both inside the restaurant and at the drive thru.

The celebration included a press conference, which The Blast attended, where Bryan opened up about the foundation’s emotional origin and powerful mission.

Co-founded in 2017 by Bryan, his wife Caroline, and her family, Ellen and Bo Boyer, The Brett Boyer Foundation was established in loving memory of Ellen and Bo’s daughter, Sadie Brett Boyer. Diagnosed prenatally with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect (CHD), Sadie Brett inspired countless people during her seven months of life.

Her legacy now lives on through the foundation’s commitment to funding CHD research, supporting families, and celebrating the Down Syndrome community.

Thinking back to how he got his start, Bryan recalled, "I wrote all these goals down on a dry erase board and I remember [thinking] 'Pick one goal, do it. Pick another goal, and make them attainable, and here I am 20 years later, and I've hit [so many] goals."

The country music star also opened up about what it means for him to be in a position to help give back.  “As a family, we always try to do what we can to give back and make time for it,” Bryan said. “We miss out on some sleep, but at the end of the day, it feels good to do the right stuff.”

Todd Graves was first introduced to The Brett Boyer Foundation by his close friend, Luke Bryan, and has since attended multiple Red Bird Games, fundraisers hosted at Bryan’s home and farm. Over the years, Graves became deeply involved with the foundation and felt inspired to make a lasting impact. He pledged $1 million, distributed as $250,000 annually over four years, through a partnership with Bryan and the foundation.

A passionate advocate for giving back, Graves supports charitable efforts through partners like Bryan and The Brett Boyer Foundation, and he’s made philanthropy a core value in every Raising Cane’s restaurant nationwide. To date, Cane’s has donated over $140 million, and this year alone, Graves committed an additional $30 million to support local communities.

“I invited Todd out to the farm a few years ago and he was so inspired once he heard about the Foundation, so that’s really how we became buddies and then he so generously gave this huge donation,” Bryan said during the press conference. “Todd mentioned that Nashville and the Franklin community have embraced these restaurants and that’s a testament to him and the great restaurants he builds. He has a charitable heart and the customers feel that from him.”

Bryan shared how the loss of Sadie Brett profoundly impacted their family and motivated them to ensure that other families facing CHD have more hope, more resources, and more support.

“So many times when people donate to a charity they never know where the money goes, but this money goes directly to the families and kids with CHD. Not only is CHD not talked about enough, but people rarely realize the strain it puts on parents and siblings and we want to help however we can,” Bryan said. “Family is at the heart of this and so many are in hospitals not knowing the future of their kids’ lives."

He added, "It’s an enormous undertaking for these families and knowing that The Brett Boyer Foundation can come in and help families worldwide is amazing. We started small and are growing!”

Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves chimed in, explaining that his mission "is to help Crew and the Community because at the end of the day, it’s not about what you make it’s about what you give back and partnering with Luke and The Brett Boyer Foundation to raise funds and bring awareness for CHD and celebrate the Down Syndrome Community is a beautiful thing."

Graves continued, "It’s easy to give money, but once you put the power of a brand like Cane’s and the star power of Luke behind something, that’s when you really get the word out and start making a meaningful impact. I’m so grateful for our friendship and to be part of something so beautiful.”

The Raising Cane's founder, moved by his friend Bryan’s story and mission, pledged to make a difference in a major way, donating $1 million to the foundation, which will be distributed over the next four years. During the event, Graves presented a ceremonial check to Bryan and his family, cementing Raising Cane’s commitment to the cause.

“I’ve watched this Foundation grow over the years from the support of people like Todd and Raising Cane’s,” Bryan said. “CHD doesn’t get talked about enough and the fact that Brett’s name lives on and is doing so much good for kids who need it helps us make sure no kid ever receives a diagnosis like Brett’s again.”

“We know 36 kids who are alive today because of The Brett Boyer Foundation and we want to see that number grow to thousands in the future,” the country music star continued. “We’re so thankful to Todd and Raising Cane’s for such a generous donation.”

Graves added, “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.”

But the fun didn’t stop there.

Bryan slipped into a Raising Cane’s uniform and worked alongside Graves, learning the ropes as a cashier and handing out Raising Cane’s iconic box combo to many hungry customers. Fans were thrilled to be served their chicken fingers by a country music legend, and the energy inside the restaurant was nothing short of electric.

With his hands-on involvement and heartfelt words, Bryan reminded everyone that true celebrity comes not just from the stage, but from how you show up for your community. Thanks to his partnership with Raising Cane’s, The Brett Boyer Foundation will be able to continue changing lives, and that’s something worth celebrating.