In life imitating art, Mythic Quest raised $600,000 (with series creator McElhenney matching $300,000) for COVID-19 (source: Variety).
Within the story, David proposes that the company give back because it is profiting so much off of people who are looking for entertainment while sitting around at home. Brad (Danny Pudi) doesn’t like to give things away without getting something in return, hence the wager for David’s mustache as they battle it out on a video game. In the end, Brad donates the money on behalf of the company and Ian matches it personally. And life is imitating art because the “Mythic Quest” team raised $300,000 for Mercy Corps’ COVID-19 relief fund, which McElhenney and his wife Kaitlin Olson personally matched.
“As we came up with the conceit of the company donating money, then I thought, ‘Wow this would be really cool if we could figure out a way in which we as a show were doing the same,'” McElhenney says. “The organization is a global one that is doing some of the best work out there for those affected by this pandemic. What we were what we’re hoping is that we can raise awareness for this incredible organization. But we also want to be very respectful of our audience who has been asked to give and give and give and give. And they have responded, and I know because I’ve run a couple of fundraisers over the course of the last three or four months and people continue to give and I know that people can’t afford to give. Of course I want people, if they can, to continue to give, but I also feel like I don’t want to ask anyone for anything else anymore. The audience has had it rough and they’re going to have a rough couple of maybe years. So this is just something we’re putting out in the world and if you can give, great, but we just hope you enjoy the show.”