Many viral social media challenges are just bad ideas, but this latest one from TikTok will restore your faith in humanity.
Lexy Kadey, @LexyLately on TikTok, noticed a new challenge circulating the trending platform where followers Venmo you small amounts of change to help you buy something you want like plastic surgery or a new car, but she had a better idea.
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Kadey posted a TikTok video on May 26 asking her followers to stand with her in changing the challenge so the donated money would then be presented to a struggling person in the form of a large tip.
At the time, Kadey had more than 11,000 followers and she calculated that if everyone gave her 50 cents she could raise $5,736.50 to donate to those in need.
“I live in Nashville and we’re currently at phase two which means dining is now back open in a very small capacity,” Kadey noted. “Saturday night my husband and I are going out to finally celebrate my birthday that was back in April, and a good portion of servers in Nashville are struggling artists and have had their shows canceled for the rest of the year. We are going to turn someone’s night around. If every follower Venmo’s me 50 cents we could leave a massive tip for somebody who has probably been through a lot.”
With her Venmo account in her bio, Kadey’s idea took off. Within 48 hours Kadey said she had raised more than $1,600 and by the time she was ready to make the donation Kade had $3,021 which she said in a video would split the money between three different servers.
@lexylately Final total!!! YOU GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE ##venmochallenge ##payitforward ##fyp ##foryou
♬ Surrender - Natalie Taylor
The servers receiving the tips that night were blown away. And from there Kadey hasn’t stopped receiving money and turning it into more tips.
@lexylately Recipient ##2 of our ##venmochallenge is Kellie from Superica! ##fyp ##payitforward ##love ##foryou ##giveaway ##food @austinburkemusic ##nashville
♬ Surrender - Natalie Taylor
This turned into a weekly challenge for Kadey and her followers and to date she’s tipped 45 people more than $80,000 to date according to her latest TikTok post.
One video of Kadey tipping a street violinist that was raising money to help his mom pay rent went viral with more than 12.7 million views.
Those receiving tips were anyone from Starbucks workers, restaurant servers to a drive-thru window worker at Taco Bell which received his tip in an empty taco shell.
@lexylately Cuz of y’all, Kevin can cover his mom’s rent- and get himself something nice. ##fyp ##music ##venmochallenge ##serialtipper ##tiktokcovers ##lexylately
♬ original sound - lexylately
See, this is one viral challenge you should get behind.
You can follow @LexyLately or Venmo her at @lexy-Kadey if you want to join in on her next challenge.
Watch some of the most-watched videos of Kadey delivering the unexpected money.
@lexylately $80,000+ raised to date just because you all have wanted to make a strangers day!!still so much to give. THANK YOU ##fyp ##venmochallenge ##lexylately
♬ Give a Little Bit - Boyce Avenue
@lexylately Last tip for PT 8 for Sonic-YOU ALL made this happen.Grateful for every single one of you. ##serialtipper ##fyp Reply to @thebadassmomsclub ##lexylately
♬ Coffee for Your Head - Vinyll