The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has experienced a significant increase in donations following a fundraising segment at the recent Emmy Awards. During the event, host Nate Bargatze pledged $100,000 to the nonprofit, introducing a twist where $1,000 would be deducted for every second an acceptance speech exceeded its time limit and added for every second under.
Despite this incentive, many winners did not keep their speeches short. “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder said during her acceptance speech, “I’ll pay the difference,” while Seth Rogen remarked, “We (expletive) over the Boys & Girls,” as the running total dropped into negative numbers, eventually reaching negative $60,000.
Lisa Anastasi, chief development and external relations officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, stated in an email that they were observing along with viewers to see how much would ultimately be donated. In the end, Bargatze gave $250,000 and broadcaster CBS contributed $100,000. “The number, I’ll be honest with you, was embarrassing,” Bargatze said before revealing the final donation amount.
Anastasi noted that donations have more than doubled compared to last week and search interest in the organization has reached record levels. She commented: “The $350,000 donation will be incredibly impactful to our programs and in the lives of kids and teens who attend our Clubs. But this moment was about more than the donation for us — it was also special because it placed our mission and our Club Kids on a national stage.”
The comedic approach received mixed reactions from viewers and those involved in philanthropy. A Variety columnist criticized the bit for overshadowing artists’ celebratory moments by focusing on policing their speeches. Fundraising strategist T. Clay Buck expressed concerns on LinkedIn about making charitable giving conditional or theatrical: “$100,000 is not a joke — it’s rent, it’s meals, it’s staff salaries, it’s futures,” Buck said. “And to cheapen that gift by making it conditional, transactional or theatrical diminishes the very heart of giving.”
