“It’s a long shot”: South Carolina students turn to Mr. Beast, other influencers to save university

GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) – Students and staff at Limestone University in South Carolina were devastated this week to learn their school was in danger of permanently closing due to financial issues. But some aren’t giving up hope, and a few have taken to social media in hopes noted Gen Z philanthropist Mr. Beast can help save their school.

On Wednesday, the university announced unless the university can secure a $6 million emergency fund, the college will need to to either move fully online or close entirely, ending a nearly two-century legacy in higher education.

In the wake of the announcement, Limestone University students took to TikTok and other social media platforms to vent their frustrations, ask followers for school recommendations or solicit donations to help keep the school open. More than a few of the latter group include tags for Jimmy Donaldson, better known online as Mr. Beast.

Donaldson is known for his YouTube channels, where he regularly engages in “stunt philanthropy,” giving large sums of money to individuals or causes, then reinvesting the money made by those videos into other philanthropic causes. He also owns his own candy company and hosts a television show on Amazon Prime.

According to Forbes, Donaldson has an estimated net worth of $85 million, and Yahoo Finance has estimated his net worth to be $1 billion. Some students are hoping if they nab his attention, he might be willing to turn his philanthropic spirit towards saving the school.

“This is 100% a long shot. We know that it is a long shot, but we have to try,” said Natalie Ruth, who earned her undergraduate degree at Limestone and is now enrolled in an accelerated masters degree program at the university.

A native of Waxaw, N.C., Natalie Ruth came to Limestone to play softball. She finished her undergraduate and is now only a handful of classes away from finishing her masters degree in business administration.

“I was looking for a place I could play softball in college. Limestone was the only school I was like ‘I could go here.’ It offered what I wanted; I love the small school, I like the area, I like the opportunities it gave me,” she said.

As of Saturday, Ruth has posted multiple videos to her TikTok feed with captions asking for Mr. Beast to step in and save Limestone. Her videos have generated tens of thousands of views, likes, shares and comments.

Ruth said the idea to try to get Mr. Beast’s attention wasn’t hers, but she’d noticed a trend of people doing it online and decided to try.

“You see what’s going on around you and you see trends and hop on the trends,” said Ruth. “And we are not doing this like ‘Mr. Beast you are our one and only hope.’ It’s getting other people’s attention and people have tagged many other popular creators as well,” said Ruth.

Saving Limestone, Ruth said is less about preserving the school for herself, but rather preserving an institution for those who are still enrolled.

“We have a lot of first-generation students here,” she said. “A lot of those kids aren’t going to be able to transfer, they just don’t have the funds or they don’t have the support which can make it very difficult to find another place to go. ”

It’s also about preserving the local economy. Limestone University estimates it has a roughly $150 million impact on the local economy.

“We have tons of mom and pop businesses, coffee shops, restaurants,” said Ruth. “All of those businesses that rely on that constant businesses are going to have a very hard time staying open.”

The Limestone University Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss the next steps for the university.