As it turns out, the biggest winners at Sunday night’s Emmys weren’t actors, directors or even Apple TV+. It was the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The afterschool nonprofit saw donations spike this week after host Nate Bargatze—dubbed the “nicest guy in comedy”—turned television’s biggest night into a fundraising experiment.
Bargatze pledged $100,000 at the top of the telecast, then put his money on the clock. Every second an acceptance speech ran over time meant $1,000 less for the Clubs; every second under added $1,000 more. Children from Boys & Girls Clubs even flanked the winners onstage, retreating to the wings once the speeches ended.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs were waiting to see the outcome in real time, like everyone else,” said Lisa Anastasi, the organization’s chief development and external relations officer.
They ended the night with a “generous surprise”: a $250,000 donation from Bargatze, plus another $100,000 from CBS.
The best news? The donations didn’t stop when the cameras cut. Anastasi said giving has more than doubled this week, and online searches for the nonprofit have hit an all-time high.
“The $350,000 donation will be incredibly impactful to our programs and in the lives of kids and teens who attend our Clubs,” she said. “But this moment was about more than the donation for us — it placed our mission and our Club Kids on a national stage.”
Of course, not everyone was charmed—critics and social media users rolled their eyes at the gimmick, even as the winners played along. But the numbers speak louder than the commentary. Bargatze’s bit may have been a stunt that went on a little long, but it looks like he’ll get the last laugh after all.
