In 2019, Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, joined forces with the Arbor Day Foundation to initiate the #TeamTrees campaign, a project that has since surpassed its original ambitions.
Known for his viral challenges and large-scale giveaways, MrBeast has amassed over 514 million followers on YouTube. Leveraging his massive online presence, he ventured beyond entertainment by founding Beast Philanthropy in 2020, an organization dedicated to harnessing social media’s reach to support global charitable causes. However, his philanthropic journey began a year earlier with an ambitious environmental initiative sparked by his subscriber milestone.
Growing a Global Movement for Reforestation
When MrBeast hit 20 million YouTube subscribers, his followers rallied to urge him to plant 20 million trees. This call to action came with suggestions to collaborate with other influencers, including former NASA engineer and fellow creator Mark Rober, to amplify the campaign’s impact.
Answering this challenge, MrBeast and Rober partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to launch #TeamTrees in October 2019. The campaign was straightforward yet powerful: for every dollar donated, one tree would be planted. This clear mission fueled widespread support, leading to an impressive planting total that has far exceeded the initial target.