Fundraiser Raises $58,000 for Esmeyer Family

Jenny and Dave Marrs' fundraiser for the Esmeyer family, whose daughter Teal is a St. Jude patient, far exceeded its original goal.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Philanthropy

Fundraiser Raises $58,000 for Esmeyer Family

Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs raised over $58,000 for the Esmeyer family, far surpassing the fundraiser's original $10,000 goal. The family had previously received a backyard and kitchen makeover on Season 7 of Fixer to Fabulous.

Why it matters

The fundraiser was created to bless Teal Esmeyer and her family and to offer an incentive for more donations, following reports that her brain tumors had progressed. It highlights how online fundraising can mobilize support for families facing serious medical challenges.

The fundraiser raised over $58,000, more than five times its original $10,000 goal. The fundraiser was tied to a 24-hour home renovation marathon with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, though how the funds will be allocated was not detailed.

The players

Jenny Marrs

Jenny Marrs is a television personality and co-host of Fixer to Fabulous who launched the fundraiser for the Esmeyer family.

Dave Marrs

Dave Marrs is a television personality and co-host of Fixer to Fabulous who co-launched the fundraiser with his wife, Jenny Marrs.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a Memphis-based pediatric cancer treatment and research center that partners with the annual Fixer to Fabulous renovation marathon.

The details

Donations were counted as entries to win prizes, including a Fixer to Fabulous set visit. One prize winner had donated without knowing about the prize, and is reportedly excited to spend time with the Marrs next week.

October 24: Bo Esmeyer shared screenshots showing Teal's brain tumors had progressed.
November 5: Jenny Marrs posted a thank-you Instagram update to fans.

Philanthropy Landscape

Celebrity-driven fundraisers tied to St. Jude's annual Fixer to Fabulous marathon have become a recurring way the network channels attention toward pediatric cancer care. This campaign extends that model by directing donations toward a single family rather than the hospital alone.

Donors who contributed to the fundraiser are entered into the prize drawings, including a Fixer to Fabulous set visit. Readers considering similar campaigns can check how donations are counted as entries before giving.

The takeaway

Online fundraisers can scale quickly when a public figure shares a family's story, but donors should confirm how funds will be used. Checking an organizer's updates helps keep giving transparent.