We are thrilled to report that the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis vs Pearl Jam vs Slog Holiday Charity Challenge (in which these three esteemed Seattle institutions compete to see whose fans can raise the most for YouthCare) has raised $109,307.76 with fans of Pearl Jam raising a whopping $48,890.27! Though ultimately Pearl Jam was the winner of the contest, in the immortal words of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, it’s all the “same love” for YouthCare!

Even more exciting, both Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and the members of Pearl Jam will be donating an additional $50,000 each, making the grand total of the Holiday Charity Challenge an incredible $209,307.76!

We are blown away by the community’s response to the challenge, and are so grateful to everyone who has participated. All proceeds will support critical, life-saving programs to help Seattle’s homeless youth at YouthCare’s James W. Ray Orion Center. Most importantly, thanks to this funding, and the gifts of several anonymous donors, YouthCare will be able to keep our Young Adult Shelter (for 18-24 year olds) open seven nights a week in 2014 (the City and King County Councils are supporting five of those nights with funding in their 2014 budgets).

We are especially grateful to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pearl Jam, and The Stranger for their support of our community’s homeless youth this holiday season. It means a great deal to the youth we serve to know that their community cares for them. Thank you.