Luke Bryan proved that “Most People Are Good” as he joined Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves to celebrate a $1 million donation from Raising Cane’s to The Brett Boyer Foundation. The foundation was co-founded by Bryan alongside his wife, Caroline, and her brother and sister-in-law, Bo and Ellen Boyer.
The Brett Boyer Foundation was created in loving memory of Ellen and Bo’s first child, Sadie Brett Boyer, who was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect (CHD). Sadie lived seven inspiring months, and her legacy fuels the foundation’s mission: to fund CHD research, support families, and celebrate the Down syndrome community. The foundation was founded in 2017 and continues to grow in impact and reach.
Franklin Lifestyle caught up with Bryan and Graves during a recent press conference about the donation. The following is excerpted from the event.
Reporter: Luke, where does this million-dollar moment rank in your career?
Well, this is tremendous. I've watched our foundation grow with people working behind the scenes — and now people stepping up like Todd and Raising Cane’s. I know the folks at The Brett Boyer Foundation are working tirelessly to make sure this million-dollar donation directly helps families dealing with children who have congenital heart disease.
A couple of months ago, we knew there were 36 kids alive today because of what we’re doing. And in 10 years, there may be hundreds, if not thousands. This is a huge donation. Todd was inspired by our work. Raising Cane’s is a great brand and company to be associated with. He and I have become friends through this, and I hope we continue doing great things together.
Reporter: Todd, your company is known for being community-first. Why was it important to spread this donation over four years, and how do you plan to keep the legacy alive?
Giving money is the easy part — we work hard and we make it so we can give. But it’s about using the resources we have across the country. We’ve got around 900 locations and reach hundreds of millions through our traffic, billboards, and TV audience. So instead of just writing a check, we’re doing a collaboration — and not just with other brands, but for charity.
Doing this over four years reinforces it. Every year, for two weeks, we’ll be sharing the message across all channels. That consistent exposure helps build awareness, creates impact, and ensures the legacy continues.
Reporter: Luke, what has your work with the foundation taught you?
It’s taught me that congenital heart disease in children doesn’t get talked about enough. As we’ve brought more awareness, I’ve had so many friends my age say they were born with heart issues that they’ve had to monitor throughout life.
This is especially prevalent in the Down syndrome community. And when you’re dealing with a heart the size of a raspberry, even small medical advances can make a huge difference. Just getting these kids through those early stages allows them to reach the next phase of life — and that gives them a real shot at a full, healthy future.
I hear my sister-in-law and the team talk about this stuff with such depth. They know hearts like Todd knows chicken and I know country music. It’s been amazing watching this mission grow.
Reporter: What kind of impact are you hoping this initiative has — not just financially, but emotionally?
Luke: Families dealing with CHD are going through so much. I remember when we were in the hospital with Brett. Right now, hospitals everywhere are filled with families who don’t know what the future holds for their child. The stress, the uncertainty, it’s overwhelming.
From navigating medical machines like ECMO — which I didn’t even know existed — to dealing with grief and emotional strain, it’s a massive challenge. And it affects the whole family, including siblings.
If The Brett Boyer Foundation can be a source of hope and support, and if we can help families feel just a little less alone, then that’s what it’s all about. This started small, but thanks to partners like Todd, it’s growing — and we’re just getting started.
Todd: Yes — this is about more than one donation. It’s about awareness around CHD and celebrating the Down syndrome community as a whole. That means better care, better facilities, better education, and just more support overall.
I don’t understand all the science behind it, but I know the people doing this work are incredibly smart and deeply committed. When someone like Luke speaks up, people listen. That opens the door for others to talk about it too.
Sometimes these things don’t come up in casual conversation, but when they do, you find out how many people are affected. Supporting a cause like this — it’s a beautiful thing.
TheBrettBoyerFoundation.org
RaisingCanes.com