Raising Cane's Founder Todd Graves Donates $1M To Support Texas Flood Relief Efforts
Over the Fourth of July weekend, catastrophic flash floods tore through communities along the Guadalupe River, claiming at least 104 lives statewide, 84 of them in Kerr County alone, including 28 children. The before dawn on Friday, as powerful waters swept through camps and homes, ripping sleeping families from cabins, tents, and trailers and carrying them miles downstream through a torrent of tree trunks and overturned vehicles.
Survivors described clinging to trees in the dark, desperately awaiting rescue.
Among the most heartbreaking losses were the 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic who were confirmed dead.
Ten more, nine girls and a counselor, remain missing as of Tuesday. Debris now litters the banks of the Guadalupe River, where twisted trees lie tangled with mattresses, refrigerators, canoes, and even a water-warped family portrait, haunting reminders of what once drew families to the Hill Country for rest and recreation.
The National Weather Service initially issued flood advisories on Thursday, followed by multiple flash flood warnings early Friday morning. As conditions rapidly worsened, they escalated to flash flood emergencies, a rare and urgent alert signaling immediate, life-threatening danger to the public.
Against this tragic backdrop, Graves announced the million-dollar donation to the Red Cross, which is currently on the ground providing emergency shelters, cleanup and relief supplies, mental health services, financial assistance, and family reunification support, both in-person and virtually.
"Our hearts break as we witness the devastating impact of the flooding in Kerrville and the surrounding communities," Graves said in a statement, per a press release sent to The Blast. "We're deeply saddened by the lives impacted and the loved ones lost, and our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected."
He added, "We're sending prayers and strength to all those facing this tragedy and are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of first responders and organizations like the American Red Cross for providing critical support and aid to those in need."
With more than 200 Raising Cane's locations across Texas, the company has grown alongside the very communities now facing unimaginable loss.
The brand's deep roots in the state and its long-standing commitment to community support make this donation more than a symbolic gesture, it's a promise of continued partnership and compassion.
"For the past 20 years, Raising Cane's has been proud to serve the people of Texas, and in times like these, we're reminded just how important community really is," Graves said.
Stories of heroism and resilience are beginning to emerge from survivors who braved the floodwaters, risking their lives to save others.
Among the many heartbreaking stories to surface in the aftermath of the Texas Hill Country, flooding is that of John Burgess, a devoted father who was swept away by the raging waters while clutching his two sons in a desperate attempt to save them.
Burgess and his wife, Julia Anderson Burgess, had traveled to the area from Liberty, Texas, over the Fourth of July weekend to pick up their eldest daughter from a nearby camp unaffected by the floods. They were staying at the Blue Oak RV Park, a popular spot for families celebrating the holiday.
Lorena Guillen, the park's owner, recalled the harrowing night the floodwaters arrived. Speaking to the New York Post, she described how her husband pleaded with Burgess to throw him the children as the waters rose.
"The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away," Guillen said through tears. "My husband was in the water trying to ask them, 'Please throw me your baby!' But it was too late."
Guillen added that the Burgess children were so excited to be there, like so many families who had come to enjoy what was supposed to be a joyful holiday weekend.
In total, all 28 RVs parked at the site were destroyed, with cabins and trailers crashing into trees under the cover of night.
"We heard people screaming throughout the night," she said. "The cabins from the RV park next door came floating, and they were getting smashed against the trees."
As the search for the missing intensifies and communities begin the long road to recovery, Graves' donation is poised to provide vital resources, not just for today, but for the difficult weeks and months ahead.
There are several ways to support flood victims and the first responders working tirelessly in the aftermath. To find out how you can help or to make a donation, click here.
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