Why We're Donating $6,500,000

[@vlogbrothers]

pih.org/hankandjohn ANSWERS to some of your questions are below, but if YOU WANT TO HELP, please share this video on your social media feeds or with people you know who might be interested in donating. Sharing online makes a HUGE difference in making the algorithm think a video is popular. :) Now, onto your questions: 1. This donation is independent from money that goes from Life's Library, dftba.com, etc. to charitable causes, including causes focused on child and maternal health in SL. None of that is changing. 2. More background: A video on systems and why systems matter: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5-2p3WrfbBnrKs and a video on the (only) psychiatric hospital in Sierra Leone, which is supported by PIH (although that project is independent from this one): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpzChJmJarqHjNU 3. We have a lot of confidence in PIH and have a long history of supporting them (and being able to follow their work). That doesn't mean this is a no-risk proposition, though. We've tried to make this choice carefully and in partnership with the people who it aims to support, as discussed in this video about why Sierra Leone is poor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ_NZ4pvmJ2Jf9E 4. Yes, we are extremely (extremely) privileged and fortunate to be in a position to make this kind of donation, and yes, that is weird, and yes, we try to be conscious of how weird it is, and no, we should not be patted on the back for doing what any normal human being would do in a position of such privilege. 5. A few of you have asked if this will change the Project for Awesome. Not in the short run. This year at least, we want to keep things the way they've been for the last few years, because we think it's really important to raise unrestricted funds for organizations like PIH and Save the Children. Unrestricted funds allow good charities to decide how to allocate their resources based on the needs of the populations they serve, not the desires of donors. We want, if possible, to raise money for this project separately. But whether we'll be able to raise enough without help from the p4a remains to be seen. Happy to answer more of your questions. Thanks as always for being here and for being such a kind and thoughtful bunch. pih.org/hankandjohn

[@osu45d]

Good on You & Hank, you've proven it's possible to be successful and a good person. DFTBA 👍

[@leebrady9669]

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[@kimberleewelch7995]

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[@melati8163]

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[@hugucinogens]

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[@whostolethepenguins9549]

I liked when you said “systemic long term problems deserve systemic long term solutions”

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

WhoStoleThePenguins +

[@danielhenderson6384]

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[@shellh929]

Yes!

[@theoffkeydiva]

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[@andreimoga7813]

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[@dilsdoes]

"/johnandhank also works" i can feel the petty sibling argument that preceded this through the screen.

[@vlogbrothers]

It's a longstanding joke between us. I did feel a little sheepish asking PIH to give us two urls, but it was worth it. ;) -John

[@roy4173]

@@vlogbrothers to be fair, the double urls make it easier to access. Petty sibling rivalry notwithstanding

[@catbojangles]

@@vlogbrothers It made me happy (I'm 41 and have no shame). I would have made the commitment anyway but maybe the joke will ease the transition from listening to donating for some people

[@jeka8826]

I typed out the entire url rather than clicking on the link because I wanted to make sure /johnandhank had some representation.

[@VideoNozoki]

I did pay attention to the true message of the video. That-being-said, each time John said, "/hankandjohn" I thought, "But John is older? Oh, but alphabetically Hank would come first I guess. I wish that they had made both..." (and then at the end of the video, watching through teary eyes, I got a little chuckle of relief at John's last sentence) John never forgets to be awesome. DFTBA

[@AwesomeCrackDealer]

when john puts on the suit you know its important

[@vlogbrothers]

It does tend to be about money when I uncork that old fella. -John

[@jasperlai]

But is he wearing pants?

[@skyewalker2588]

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[@jordantierney6495]

Jasper Lai From my (admittedly limited) knowledge of John Green, I would say that he is most likely wearing pants, but they are definitely not suit pants.

[@AmeliaBell28]

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[@LANBobYonson]

Let's all get this to #1 trending on KZbin please.

[@AzrgExplorers]

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[@himrqwerty]

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[@lou2850]

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[@tryingtoputitintowords]

Melee e +

[@leebrady9669]

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[@truehope2344]

I love how you didn't present the problem with statistics only, but with a personal story as well, the stories of people like Ruth make it more clear that there are actual behind all these numbers

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

true hope He should be a storyteller by profession

[@RainaRamsay]

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[@Nerdnotwashere]

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[@MisterAppleEsq]

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[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

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[@danielpereira2080]

This is how someone with wealth should behave in 2019. Thank you.

[@deannabanana636]

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[@Zachdancer1]

Daniel Pereira +

[@spencerwilson7249]

Daniel Pereira +

[@yendis902]

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[@amandaconway1972]

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[@robscallon]

I’m so thankful that The Internet has the Vlogbrothers

[@candycoatedcactus]

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[@sergiosanchezpadilla6941]

Wow, Rob Scallon is here

[@rachelt4274]

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[@cosmic594]

“We only address the injustices we see.” As a figurative virtual person represented by my icon, I’m immensely grateful, but also humbled to find myself lucky to be here with such civil souls as yours, and I know this is not much in contribution, but I want to promote this video, so other people can listen and share this message.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Pragnika Patel +

[@baileym3060]

Such a good point he made!

[@lifegeek5742]

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[@roz4975]

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[@shellh929]

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[@MrsClintA]

Dear John, Thank you for this. As a mother who's endured four Cesareans in the US, this video has humbled me to the reality that I probably should have died in childbirth, and I didn't...because the hospital is 10 minutes away, because Pitosin is awesome (but painful), because the ORs were clean, staff wore gloves, ect...and with the expeption of scar tissue, I made it through (we made it through) four deliveries in operating rooms. Your video brought me to tears, as I imagined the fear and uncertainty women in Sierra Leone likely go through during a pregnancy. I sincerely hope that Sierra Leone gets the kind of care they need to save lives, prolong lives, and to ensure a bettre quality of life for its citizens.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm so glad you all made it through, and so grateful for your deep ability to empathize with how scary it is to need a C-section and not have safe access to one. -John

[@GuiHarrison]

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[@Carina5707]

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[@darkfire090]

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[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

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[@elisa.llew-send]

13 months ago I was wheeled into an emergency cesarean to ensure my baby made it. I had the luxury of worrying about whether I’d have a reaction to the anesthesia, instead of worrying about whether I’d die of infection, fall and die on my way to get help, or bleed out because the staff couldn’t see what they were doing. And I’ve never been so aware of this fact as I am now. I think we need a new word, “emergency” doesn’t accurately describe the dire nature of this situation.

[@catsbakecookies9862]

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[@frogflint4371]

How about "catastrophe"?

[@haileyobrien1069]

I had a C-section with my first baby after a long labor but not once was I concerned I would not live through the birth. This is a tragedy and an emergency. The lives of Sierra Leone mothers and children are just as valuable as mine and my children.

[@vlogbrothers]

So perfectly put, and thank you for sharing that. -John

[@noumankhan6228]

Hailey O'Brien my wife needed C-sections for both our kids. The idea that needing a C-section is virtually a death sentence for so many people around the world is a very sobering thought.

[@sunstripe85]

Hailey..... I managed to make it through John's video without crying, but you made me lose that attempt with your comment. I'm so glad you and your child were okay. It's completely unacceptable that we can't have such similar hopes for mothers and children in Sierra Leone

[@PopeGoliath]

I set up a $10 monthly donation. I'll keep it up as long as my circumstances allow.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thank you, Scott! -John

[@karenmeador7807]

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[@sams1982]

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[@quintingell]

Remember when we started the "+" to upvote comments? Well, videos with more comments get favored by KZbin's algorithm so if you can't afford to give, comment, even if it's a simple "+" it will help (and of course share the video widely)

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Quintin Gell +

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

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[@toboshi]

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[@RedSunT]

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[@clotildevivier8650]

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[@diharaj5358]

You can tell it's a legitimate issue and one that needs to be dealt with immediately when the video is more than 4 minutes long

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Dihara J +

[@EcceJack]

Quite so x)

[@mariliagontijo1700]

+ (Also, John's wearing a suit :)

[@FridgeEating]

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[@kloe.com.au1]

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[@evercuriousmichelle]

"96% of PIH Sierra Leon's employees are Sierra Leonean." This is so crucial and I'm glad you mentioned it. It's important that we don't fall victim to the white savior complex.

[@aleka..]

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[@caileydavidson1792]

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[@laurenvorreiter544]

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[@lupevinado3087]

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[@tanshayne7761]

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[@_mels_]

I know this comment will probably be lost in the sea of others, but I think it needs to be said. If you're a student, or just recently out of college, or generally don't have the best financial situation, *take care of yourself first.* Use the money you need on yourself, take care of your well-being. You can donate your attention, boost the message on any social media platform you have. Don't be hard on yourself for not being able to donate money: it's not the only thing you can do, and if you invest that money into yourself, you'd be more likely to give back n-fold later in life. I believe in your rationality and ability to know what's better for you right now.

[@vlogbrothers]

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[@michelleayres4458]

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[@AzuriteCoast]

+ As a college student, I was looking for this.

[@deanc9453]

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[@TotallyRedonkulous]

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[@MrMcmokka]

"Ruth slipped the equivalent of two dollars to one of her patients..." This one brought tears to my eyes.

[@skyewalker2588]

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[@sams1982]

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[@afroceltduck]

What really got me about that story is that it helped the woman and her children be able to eat THAT day. Tomorrow? A week from now? Nobody knows.

[@erikaroth6049]

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[@jeka8826]

Now that I am an adult with all my student loans paid off, I can finally jump into these projects with some confidence. You have my monthly donation. And my axe.

[@OneTraveller]

And my bow!

[@candycoatedcactus]

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[@cenedra20]

finally financialy stable to donate! Yay

[@yeetyeet7070]

holy moly, congratulations of escaping student loans debt

[@ananimal9779]

I appreciate your stance. Another important part is how you earn that wealth. Many people have well-paying jobs in real estate or finance and their efforts are taking money from poor struggling people locally and giving a small part of that inefficiently to people halfway around the world. If you're in the US I'm sure there are suffering people directly around you, and any efforts to help will be multiplied due to fewer middle-men in the exchange.

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

Mr. Beast: “I’m giving away $100,000 to whoever can stay in this pool the longest” Vlogbrothers: “we’re donating $6,500,000 to Partners in Health, because Sierra Leone has crises that need to be addressed” I hope this video goes to the top of trending

[@Kabster_the_Lime]

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[@bcunningham3718]

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[@AzrgExplorers]

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[@himrqwerty]

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[@andrewbunclark]

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[@bunceman4613]

I had tuberculosis when I was a baby and nearly died. Thank god I had universal healthcare. I hope that Sierra Leone can prosper so people don't need to die from a such wicked disease. Edit: Thank you all.

[@himrqwerty]

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[@youraveragemusicperson2176]

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[@UncannyDoge]

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[@rubinaji]

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[@isabelh4372]

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[@the24hourbookstore49]

"This is unacceptable and we don't have to accept it"

[@J42Michael]

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[@ivivesvamp]

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[@intermedianguitarsguild4482]

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[@freyab5066]

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[@homeworkbreak4237]

The ultimate comeback to “It is how it is.”

[@alixila]

I had an emergency c-section this year. I wouldn't be alive and my children wouldn't be alive if it weren't for our amazing healthcare system and medical team. Thank you John and Hank for your work on this and bringing this to our attention. I will definitely be donating to this worthy cause.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Alix Ballinger +

[@elisa.llew-send]

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[@charliespinoza1966]

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[@lauraryebislev]

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[@areside]

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[@milicakrunic4898]

So proud to be a Nerdfighter, even if I'm currently not in the position to donate!

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Milica Krunić +

[@vlogbrothers]

Being here with us, and sharing your perspective and your attention, means a lot, whether you can donate or not. Thank you. -John

[@FasterFaster196]

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[@sofiagolpe2224]

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[@XavierXonora]

I've been in that position before and the first person you need to look after is you. The rest of us who have the means to do so are the ones who need to take the responsibility to donate to these causes

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

I mean, I kind of assumed John was a multimillionaire from book and movie deals, and that Hank was "very well off" - but to be able to donate $6.5 million between them? I'm glad that they are putting their money and fame to wonderful use. THank you Hank & John (& Katherine & Sarah.)

[@jordantierney6495]

I agree. I always kind of saw them as upper-middle-class type folks, even though I knew conceptually that they probably have very large bank accounts. The fact that they’re each donating the value of a very very nice house (at least where I live) every year for the next five years is insane.

[@ephemera...]

I don’t think they are personally donating that amount, though no doubt they are most likely contributing significant amounts. The $6.5 million is their total fundraising goal.

[@katiearthofer5998]

@@ephemera... He refers to "our families". Its definitely 6.5million from them and their wives directly, the fundraising is on top of that. Hank has many successful businesses and a best selling book. John has several successful books, one smash hit book, and several extremely lucrative movie deals. Both their wives also work. They both have $$$, just don't appear to spend to the extent they're able. Hank in particular has expressed anti-consumption views, or at least an apathy to luxury. Both have given the sense they hit a level of financial security for them and their families and felt weird continuing to increase spending/hoarding wealth.

[@Pleunpleun]

Kimberley Downing they have had very successful careers for years and years. They have (had) numerous companies, movie deals, books, successful youtube channels.

[@rmdodsonbills]

Yes, and also, I'm very glad John mentioned that Ruth's $2 was a bigger sacrifice than the $6.5million. It could even be that the Greens' donation is a bigger percentage of their total wealth than Ruth's donation was and that still wouldn't negate this statement. Not everyone realizes just how big a million dollars is. This has implications for tax policy as well.

[@SapphireSparrowFilms]

I'm so proud to be part of a community that focuses on projects like this. Especially a KZbin based community, where often comment sections are awful and many videos are clickbait or ridiculous just for the sake of being ridiculous. Nerdfighteria continues to amaze me. Thank you all for creating and supporting awesome and fighting to decrease worldsuck.

[@vlogbrothers]

I did make this title SLIGHTLY clickbaity. :) But thank you. I am also really, really proud to be part of this community. -John

[@SapphireSparrowFilms]

@@vlogbrothers Maybe a smidge clickbaity, but you followed through! DFTBA

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

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[@AzrgExplorers]

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[@wogdog985]

vlogbrothers well, clickbait implies that the creator simply wants views and doesn’t necessarily care about human interaction. but this video was straight, to the point, and sincere!

[@coen555]

I was listening to a female survivor of the civil war on the radio the other day. She moved to Australia got a medical degree and went back to Sierra Leone to help with the health crisis. Mind blowing the stories she had to tell.

[@darkfire090]

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[@bonaldbonson8592]

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[@karenmeador7807]

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[@ivivesvamp]

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[@human_brian]

I donated $10 a month and I wish I could do more. Giving shouldn't make one feel good but it does make the hopelessness easier to bare.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thank you. I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling good about giving to causes you care deeply about. If this can be a bulwark against hopelessness, all the better. -John

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

I think the way we police how we feel about things is a whole mess in itself honestly. I think feeling good about helping other humans is one of the reasons humans are generally a cooperative, social species, and anything we can do to work in that direction is a positive imo.

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

Also +++

[@karenmeador7807]

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[@JulieHerrick]

I've been awaiting this announcement: I'm so in! I've learned through the years to never underestimate Nerdfighteria, and I can't wait to see what our money and our attention can do when we invest it alongside the people and systems of Sierra Leone. Thank you for your leadership in this endeavor!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks, Julie! (Also nice to see you in LA. Hope you like/d the show!) -John

[@Julesdoesstuff]

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[@milicakrunic4898]

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[@thefrogue6970]

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[@SamBellows]

Raise a million a year for 5 years? i dont know of any other community outside of Nerdfighteria that i' could say with confidence could do this, but we totally got this!

[@Gonatz]

I’ve got pms so I’m crying like a baby right now but thank you so much John and Hank not only for all the money you spent on this incredible project but also for the hope you’ve given to so many of us

[@isabelh4372]

Natalie Foertter +

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Natalie Foertter +

[@dholmes264]

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[@Scythe1]

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[@nitsiehta]

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[@faylinameir]

Yesterday I gave birth to my daughter who is sleeping soundly on my chest. I can’t help but be overwhelmed with emotions however because I lay in this bed after suffering massive blood loss that had I been “unlucky” enough to live in another country I probably would have died from. I am sore and very sick but I’m alive because I have a massive staff of nurses and doctors caring for me. It’s something we often take for granted: having access to basic health care or better. Thank you for what you do and I’m excited to donate in support of this cause. ❤️ DFTBA

[@vlogbrothers]

I'm glad you're getting good care, and that you and your daughter are here with us. Congrats on the baby; what an adventure awaits! I hope you won't mind if I offer your baby the benediction that a friend offered mine, quoting Kurt Vonnegut: “Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies - ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” Wishing you well. -John

[@lenamarthe]

THANK YOU! My son had to be delivered by an emergency c-section just over a year ago and it was a terrifying experience (in a well funded and well staffed hospital here in Germany) I just cannot imagine what these women and their partners go through. Thank you for using your privilege to shine a light on this situation! I’m hopeful that as a community we can make a difference one health worker at a time.

[@incandescent.numinousity]

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[@yendis902]

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[@heatherjosvlog]

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[@Margaretfogs]

I was coming to comment just about the exact same thing, but with my daughter! (with a nerdfighter name - Hazel) She came into the world via a scary emergency c-section and I can't fathom what it would have been like if we had been in the place of these women in Sierra Leone. I'm so glad something is being done for these women.

[@ephemera...]

Me too. Had a friend who laboured for 24 hours before a c section. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have this option.

[@nicoleheymannweltgestalter]

"Systemic long-term problems demand systemic long-term solutions" John Green, 2019 Thank you, John, Hank, Katherine, and Sarah for not only "caring", but also understanding that poverty is a complex issue. I am involved with a small NGO in Uganda that helps impoverished teenage mothers to get vocational training for jobs. And I couldn't agree more with your statement: Too many well-meaning people have caused too much damage to poor communities because they didn't think about long-term effects or systemic factors such as culture, infrastructure, or creating dependency by giving money to "poor people". But if you genuinely partner with the poor instead of throwing stuff at them, it will change everything. Not for the whole world, but for those it reaches. So, I pray that the Nerdfighter's contribution would change everything for the people it reaches.

[@candycoatedcactus]

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[@airemay]

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[@HelenRosemarySmith]

@nicole heymann wel said :) hope your NGO work is going well!

[@jasper-od3dv]

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[@nicoleheymannweltgestalter]

@@HelenRosemarySmith thank you :) I am in Uganda until Sunday. The needs are overwhelming, but the hope is also real. We were able to find new sponsors for some of the kids of these teen mothers. It means the world to these few. And we get to see how these people go from passive, low-confidence to active, high-confidence. It is great to be involved there :)

[@GRRiTSELeNA]

I went through high school being inspired by vlogbrothers. Through undergrad, a masters in public health, and now a job in global health, PIH and Paul Farmer have served as a guiding light for me. It just makes me so so happy that these worlds have collided and two of my biggest sources of inspiration are accomplishing wonderful things together.

[@siddiqueunar3630]

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[@HelenRosemarySmith]

That's so great! :D

[@jasper-od3dv]

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[@a.z.fellco.1704]

Dftba

[@Emariec93]

GRRiTSELeNA OMG were twins! I grew up watching through high school, college and my master's in public health.

[@alyssar3664]

"We only address the injustices we see" WOW Thank you

[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

Alyssa R +

[@Madelelion]

Next year when I get married, my partner and I are donating money to organisations who inspire us instead of giving people favours. Your videos have inspired me, made me cry several times and I decided recently that I'll be giving my portion of money to PIH in name of these efforts. Thank you for constantly educating me, pushing my beliefs in how we can do better as humans. Thank you.

[@vlogbrothers]

What a great idea! Your comment made me tear up a little! Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage, and thank you so much! -John

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Maddie Coussens ++

[@ephemera...]

I cried too.

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

This is a beautiful idea, I will definitely keep it in mind for if my partner and I choose to get married. Thank you

[@Madelelion]

Most people leave favours behind anyway. And it adds to waste. I think my partner will be donating his share to the RNLI who save people on the shores of the UK and now further afield (which when announced got heavily heavily criticized for). But they believe in saving anyone in danger who is stuck at sea (UK resident, refugee or anyone else). Thank you for your response John, it's how much you care and are willing to educate yourself about the problem that inspires us all. Thank you.

[@krissymillard1823]

You know John is serous when he puts on a suit jacket. John, your passion is contagious. Thank you.

[@jenniferlutzky7847]

John's passion IS contagious, and is a primary reason I am such a huge fan of his. (Plus his books are amazing.) I feel like he gets people to care about important things.

[@krissymillard1823]

Jennifer Lutzky yes! I keep finding myself thinking so much more deeply about how I spend money and attention in light of PIH.

[@WintaAssefa]

I love how consumed you've become by this Sierra Leonean project. And to me, this fixation is as healthy as it can be for something this large and beyond your control. You're patiently learning about how big the systemic problems are and you're teaching others about it over time, without taking away any of these people's human-ness. I moved to my dad's homeland, Ethiopia, five years ago and I'm learning a lot through the site analyses I do for my architecture course. Honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed about it all last week. I was thinking about how redundant a lot of the same problems are all over the city, and I thought: how can people hold on to one end of these problems and be optimistic about getting through with solving it? People don't want to collaborate, and too often people who used to be below the poverty line turn their backs on others once they're out. People tend to look at you like you're stupid when sabotage is not the first thing on your mind. Honest videos like these help. And while I know that we're not expected to 'solve' everything in our lifetime here, we're not expected to do anything less than trying our best. Thank you for sharing your experience, John. -w _(you can come over to this channel of mine to stay in the loop and maybe learn a little more about what's happening in this part of the world. I'm planning to share my experience soon. Hopefully, without bumming any of you out)_

[@shalvigarimanegi]

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[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

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[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

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[@LisaFM]

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[@kloe.com.au1]

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[@BurningThroughTime]

"We only the address the injustices we see" Too true and very tragic that complex systems often both obscure these injustices, and make them more complicated to solve. I wish the best for this project and the people who need its help.

[@MrAndrewlang]

This needs to be heard, so I’m commenting for the algorithm.

[@sharks2571]

I am replying for the algorithm :)

[@kyledewaal3426]

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[@T._.liu.]

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[@RainaRamsay]

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[@theoc223]

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[@shinycoop]

I wish I could donate right now, but as I'm not in a position to, I will instead etch this into my memory so I can come back when I'm in a place where giving is an option. It's things like this and the community response to them that make me incredibly proud to call myself a Nerdfighter.

[@AzrgExplorers]

And feed another comment to the KZbin algorithm!

[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

Shyni +

[@bluebayou9467]

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[@baileym3060]

This is one of the reasons I'm happy that they are doing this as a long term project

[@wogdog985]

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[@oliviasouza4964]

Ruth reminds me so much of the widow from Luke 21:4, '" All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”' God bless her, and the work being done there.

[@nobody-ye9rx]

KZbin should make a documentary about this issue, they have a great platform to spread awareness and thus support the long term solutions

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

It would help youtube get a better image if more people knew about this instead of just knowing about the controversies

[@Lic021]

although I'm sure I've heard it before, the 1/17 mothers dying in childbirth/pregnancy really hit me, that is a devastatingly high number. I don't know if I can commit to a monthly donation but I will try to give what I can, and I'll definitely be sharing this

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks. One-time donations help too, but we absolutely understand that many people aren't in a position to donate. -John

[@saracarr3382]

Just shared on Facebook and Instagram. Now adding a comment for the algorithm. seriously the least you can do.

[@vlogbrothers]

That's a lot. Thank you, Sara! -John

[@oneofthemany7322]

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[@janicej4322]

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[@candycoatedcactus]

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[@iLLeag7e]

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[@himrqwerty]

I am, once again, moved to tears by this community. I'm so glad I've had the pleasure of being in it for about ten years now.

[@Grasmel]

Small bug on the donation page. It won't let me continue until I've selected a US state, despite having entered a different country. Guess I'll be an honorary Minnesotan today.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for the heads up; I'll let the folks at PIH know. Congrats on your Minnesotaness. -John

[@AlRoderick]

If you're Scandinavian that is very appropriate.

[@RainaRamsay]

+

[@AzrgExplorers]

I'm an honorary... (consults reference of state codes) ... "Armed Forces Americas (Except Canada)-ian"? It was the closest to AB for Alberta

[@rachellindholm]

You picked the best state :)

[@NinnySakshi]

"It required far more compassion for Ruth to make that sacrifice than for us to make this donation." Wish more people could understand that.

[@scotttroyer]

I was prepping for this Sunday's service for which the scripture is Mark 12:41-44...the widow and her 2 mites. This post was timely. Donated immediately.

[@RainaRamsay]

+

[@MonicaEvans1]

+

[@MrFreedomFries]

I thought of that same passage

[@JenniferJiang2013]

As someone who graduated in public health and got to meet Paul Farmer, PIH is amazing. Thank you for supporting such an amazing organization.

[@sunstripe85]

holy cow, that's so cool you got to meet him! He's been my hero since college

[@_stephanie_paul]

My family is Sierra Leonean, and I couldn’t thank you more for bringing awareness to this crisis!! 💚🤍💙🇸🇱🙏🏽

[@sammit1548]

"We only address the injustices we see." Visibility is key! And thank you for bringing so much of it! Keep up the amazing work and attention, John

[@RainaRamsay]

"We only address the injustices we see." This kind of video is hard for me to watch, because it makes me feel sad and overwhelmed and hopeless. Thank you for validating that the attention I'm paying is worth the pain it causes.

[@bluebayou9467]

Raina Ramsay +

[@baileym3060]

Such a good point!

[@CathalMcGinley]

+

[@aravisthetarkheena]

+

[@northernerunderfire]

+

[@LuaThomF]

Thank you so much for acknowledging my only being able to pay attention. I'm a single mother and just barley able to make ends meet myself. However I am very much aware how lucky I am to have been born in a 1st world country. It kills me that I can't do more to help those less fortunate. Your seeing me and others like me for just paying attention means so much. Thanks to you and your family for all that you do.

[@guimatorres]

Your family is very generous, the world is better because of people like you.

[@bjorngustafsson2466]

+

[@Vezitos]

+

[@SS-mn6kh]

+

[@theoffkeydiva]

+

[@areside]

+

[@allisonpenner6313]

"We only address the injustices we see."

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Allison Penner +

[@risxra]

+

[@ellepalabra6102]

I couldn't be prouder to be part of a community that truly believes in change for the better and acts like it. I want to help end this crisis but also to prove just what can be accomplished when people work together for good.

[@robertbaillargeon3683]

I want many, many more successful youtube channels to do this--learn about a need, thoroughly research what sort of solution will help, and stretch as far as possible to contribute to the solution. This is great.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks, Robert. This begins today, but it has to continue long-term to be successful, so we'll be counting on you and others to hold us accountable and keep our attention where it ought to be. -John

[@stuffbymagdalena]

+

[@ju13hpm]

+

[@sharks2571]

+

[@rowanlynn9841]

+

[@cupcakewithouttheicing]

This video is simultaneously the saddest and most uplifting thing I've seen today. I don't even have words

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Cupcake Without The Icing +

[@kkk9909]

"Why Sierra Leone?" Yes there are many just causes that deserve and require the same support, but a deep abd long lasting partnership makes an exponential impact. It's inspiring to see you be such a great example of commitment to a cause and to people!

[@cleanwaternasenyiuganda8124]

Most African Americans have heritage there. It's a country with deep ties to America.

[@kkk9909]

@@cleanwaternasenyiuganda8124 I didn't know that, thanks for sharing! I hope we can share and spread the word and give this cause more attention

[@bradleysampson8230]

Katherine, Sarah, John, and Hank didn't forget to be awesome.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Bradley Sampson +

[@Infamous-K]

At a time when I desperately NEED to believe there is good in the world, this is always my first stop. Thank you.

[@spencerwilson7249]

Franki +

[@Kiako465]

"It required far more sacrifice and compassion for Ruth to make that donation than it does for our family to make this one" Oof, that part sent chills down my spine. One day, when I have an income, I hope I can be as generous as Ruth.

[@Circely]

I'm adding a comment to help this video trend, but I also wanna say thank you to John, Hank, their families, and all of Nerdfighteria for taking up such an important cause

[@incandescent.numinousity]

+

[@janicej4322]

+

[@HolaMindy]

Thank you for continuing to educate us on this crisis. I'm pregnant right now, and I have been thinking about these women throughout my whole pregnancy.

[@vlogbrothers]

Congrats on your pregnancy. Wishing you well. -John

[@caprafan]

The fact that PIH hires local staff is one the keys to making their projects sustainable; the hospitals won't close when international conditions change, and trained local health workers can pass on their skills.

[@squishington42]

Dang John, punching right in the feels with facts. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[@MisterAppleEsq]

Thank you, John.

[@madjedi2235]

We all need this right about now, thanks +

[@kineokami]

Small moves create large ripples in the waters of human experience, we are intertwined with each other so tightly, so loosely. This will have such impact, inspiration abound to reach together like a hand outstretched, made of a rubbery empathy stretching and stretching, each finger touching wounds and needs. Thank you.

[@himrqwerty]

++++

[@kimberleewelch7995]

+

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

++

[@rowanlynn9841]

+

[@moskiougeorgia]

+

[@serene7995]

I'm commenting to push this video out even though it's a few years old! people need to hear this!

[@sofia8452]

Thank you so much John! Your videos are a big reason as to why I am deciding on studying medicine right now. Academics can be so difficult and discouraging but your videos remind me that it is all worth it. I hope to do work like this one day.

[@vlogbrothers]

Keep up the good work, Fatima. -John

[@furkell]

You are a hero!

[@kimberleewelch7995]

+

[@danialhaseeb1909]

+

[@shellh929]

+

[@rosewhipple9923]

I have nothing to donate, but I care deeply about this issue and I want it to reach others who may feel the same way. That's why I'm commenting. I want KZbin and other KZbin users to take notice of this crisis.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Rose Whipple +

[@AzrgExplorers]

+

[@avelkm]

I was struggling with money for the last two years, now I've got a small contract, so finally I can send some bucks to help those struggling much more than I even can imagine. Thank you, John and Hank!

[@isabelsong21]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for using your various resources (financial, reach, time, etc.) to help address the health crisis in Sierra Leone. And thank you for helping others to do the same. I appreciate you all so much, and I am so grateful to be a part of this community. ♥️♥️

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Isabel Song +

[@Sparnia]

Your two families are who we should all strive to be.

[@lebre.]

+

[@bluebayou9467]

+

[@Norwaycat91]

+

[@SpectraStarShooter]

I’m so humbled by how you and Hank turned an old school youtube experiential into a long running movement to make the world a better place. Thank you.

[@McMomfaceplustwo]

I had premature twins by emergency c-section and because I lived in a place with the top level care possible in the US, we were all fine and comfortable. Thank you for using your voice and money to help these women and this country in crisis.

[@ninakay9916]

+

[@kayruby7941]

I'm once again reminded how amazing this movement is. Proud to be a nerdfighter.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Keren Ruby same

[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

Keren Ruby +

[@Pindexsf]

You are a spectacular human being.

[@Tigrez1310]

Just donated. Thank you for shining light on such an important issue and how we can help these people!

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Carina Stein +

[@asawerabbood]

6000000$!!! every time you feel useless or depressed *John* / *Hank* , you just remember that you saved a little part of this world and it is never gonna be the same again.. man you are great *i love you* .

[@caroline8499]

Dear John, this bought me to tears. It is a true tragedy that 1 in 17 women won't have the chance to watch their children grow up. The lost daughters, wives, mothers and sisters. I'm so grateful for all the doctors at the birth of my son, I'm not sure if both of us would have made it without them. I can't imagine the terror of not knowing if you will be coming back to the children you already have and wondering if you will ever meet the one you are about to have. Thank you so much for this. I'm off now to look at our books and see what we can do each month. Many, many thanks again. This is good work.

[@mdgnys]

I legitimately cried watching this video. I'm so proud to be a part of this community. I plan on donating. I also use tab for a cause, which while it doesn't add up quite as much, is something.

[@mollystringer6273]

I cried watching the video too. He focused on the people, not the statistics, not the money. That made it so much more impactful.

[@mdgnys]

@@mollystringer6273 I don't know what it was, but I felt a combination of sadness for the state of the world and hope/pride in what the good people do.

[@ohanadoesntmeanfamily7870]

This is why I’m still believing into humanity ♥️

[@theoc223]

+

[@northwestborn]

I really really love how the fact that both Hank and John can afford to donate such a large sum of money means absolutely nothing to all of us. Truly I adore this community and love that from those of us eating ramen and watching this, to those of us with the means to match all of our collective coffee money pennies--we are all absolutely equals. Love y'all. Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

[@patraisstrzelecki2025]

3rd comment for the algorithm: I just did a law school survey for a $5 reward and was excited to see the survey makers gave PIH as an option to donate my reward.

[@TheEmmaHouli]

+

[@candycoatedcactus]

Curtis: Does the algorithm look for multiple comments from the same person, or just number of comments in general?

[@patraisstrzelecki2025]

@@candycoatedcactus Interesting point... maybe it's just total number of individual people that comment to keep people from gaming the system? But I have no idea.

[@candycoatedcactus]

@@patraisstrzelecki2025 i have no idea where the name Curtis came from in there... Thanks for your response!

[@giabea.]

Such an important issue, love that you guys are playing a part in improving the world❤️

[@ju13hpm]

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[@sharks2571]

+

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

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[@shalvigarimanegi]

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[@isabelh4372]

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[@protoman21]

John and Hank should be immune from punishments forever due to their extreme generosity. Bravo!

[@nitzans]

Green Brothers and Co., thank you for being such a wonderful guiding light for what really matters.

[@stoneecoldsober]

And this is why I will always be proud to be a nerdfighter and why the Vlogbrothers will always be my idols.

[@TMParrish2011]

Deanna Giles Same.

[@aytackiran3815]

Vlogbrothers are our brothers. Genuine, honest, humbling and part of the family. Heartfelt thanks to you, your immediate families and the larger Nerdfighters family that all contributed to this beatiful moment of solidarity.

[@aquietlife8234]

This came at a moment when I was feeling particularly small and incapable of making change. Thank you for always talking about the big problems.

[@akshatap7377]

wow I'm so glad our community is working towards something so important

[@vividemporium4533]

I am a Sierra Leonean living in the USA. One in seventeen women dying in child birth is real. A woman would be "rushed" to the hospital to give birth while her other children stay home waiting and playing vigorously. Only for dad or aunty or grandma to come back with a lifeless woman and a motherless new born. I am heartened by this initiative. Thank you for what you are doing. I will share this on my social media, donate to the cause and find more ways to get involved.

[@taylorcarmen5336]

Thank you John and Hank for doing this the right way. Thank you for listening to these communities about what they actually need and not just stepping in for the sake of ego.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Taylor Carmen +

[@wyn735]

+

[@fenja__]

Good morning John, it's pretty late already over here in Germany but I'm willing to pause my studying for a while in order to watch your video :) It's truly amazing that you draw attention to what's clearly wrong with the world in such a touching way! You're such a great role-model and for me personally a huge inspiration (and source of endless vocabulary I can use in my essays at school). I am so grateful that I'm able to share a tiny bit of your thoughts on such important topics and can only hope that I will be a little like you when I grow up (even though I don't necessarily plan on growing up too soon :) Thanks for brightening up my day as always🤗 Have a lovely day! Lots of love :)

[@nightfall0102]

"it's pretty late already over here in Germany but I'm willing to pause my studying for a while in order to watch your video " Kenne ich. :P

[@azshyra-6502]

+

[@termtube]

+

[@nitsiehta]

nightfall0102 +

[@ptarmigan1356]

Kenne ich auch :)

[@barbaral3302]

We as nerdfighters have always been able to make a difference together. I’m so proud and happy to be a part of this long term partnership

[@sabrinagibby4167]

Definitely wasn't constantly refreshing youtube hoping for this very video...

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Sabrina Gibby +

[@muggins20]

WOW! I'm always amazed and humbled by how an amount of money that I wouldn't even notice if I lost (a couple USD) can be life changing to someone else. Thank you.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

muggins20 +

[@Spouseofmiyanoshiho]

Being a student in a not-rich country i'm not currently in a place where I could donate. i'm glad this is a long term partnership because i'm sure there will be something i can do in a few months, be it small in quantity. John, I'm currently studying environmental engineeering and the problems that i'm faced with, that my lecturers tell me, every day they sound more and more impossible. systemic change cannot be wished for. infrastructures cannot be built. forget about drinkable tap water, most districts doesn't even want clean water pipes to be installed. these, all of these, so many of the problems i'm faced with require systemic, long term change, and i've lost hope. I burnt out, thought about stopping altogether and just live off other things instead of trying to solve the impossible. this video, and your other videos of SL that i just rewatched.. they remind me. hope IS the thing with feathers. thank you. i'll try a bit harder at school, and i'll see what i can do for this project of yours. be it sharing, or small donations from summer jobs. I want to believe that it can make a difference. i want to believe that i'm right to hold on to my hope. thank you, to both you and hank, and to nerdfighteria, who's helped me get through some of the hardest periods of my life, not with blind acceptance that the world is terrible, but with hope that people, we, can make it better.

[@ramblinentertainment1922]

Hank and John are what content creators should be. Thanks for all the amazing content and for constantly using your positions of power to help others, love u guys!

[@spencerwilson7249]

Bani K +