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As of October 30th at 5:05 pm, the annual Desert Bus for Hope fundraiser came to an end after a record-breaking 169 hours of livestreaming that raised $1,347,514 USD ($1,883,218 CAD) in donations for Child’s Play Charity.
Entering its 20th year, Desert Bus for Hope 2026 brought together a team consisting of over 175 volunteers, including event organizers, entertainers, supporting volunteers, chat moderators, and video strike team members.
Prizes were provided by 18 corporate sponsors and 86 artisans and crafters, who created one-of-a-kind pieces that were auctioned and offered in giveaways.
Facts behind Desert Bus for Hope 2026:
- This year’s event was watched by an average of more than 3,000 viewers during each of the 169 hours.
- Viewers submitted thousands of challenges for the entertainers, made hundreds of original pieces of artwork, and contributed 502,619 chat messages.
- 5,043 generous donors contributed steadily over the week, in the final hours of the event it surpassed Desert Bus for Hope’s previous donation record of $1,252,690, which was set in 2024.
- This year’s total of $1,347,514 USD also pushed the lifetime total over $14.3 million USD (over $20 million CAD) raised for Child’s Play Charity.
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In this record-breaking year, the team achieved 19 total game points, more than before, even achieving the longest streak of consecutive points after 15 consecutive 8-hour trips between Las Vegas and Tucson without a single bus breakdown. This amazing feat could be an all-time world record for this beloved title.
A message from Penn and Teller:
At the end of Desert Bus for Hope 2026, the organizers are grateful for the generosity of the audience, donors, sponsors, and volunteers, who together help enable the work that Child’s Play Charity is doing to improve the lives of children in hospitals.
Source: Press Release
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