A viral video showing a homeless mother’s act of kindness has led to a life-changing outcome. Brienna, a 32-year-old single mother from Detroit, Michigan, offered a blanket to a stranger despite being homeless herself with her two children, ages 5 and 7. That simple gesture would transform her family’s future forever.
Brienna had been homeless for two years after escaping an abusive relationship. With both parents deceased and no support system, she and her children moved between shelters while she tried to raise money for hotel rooms that cost $75 per night. When approached by what appeared to be another homeless person, she had only $8 in a 7-Eleven cup but still showed remarkable generosity.
The stranger turned out to be Zachery Dereniowski, known as MDMotivator, a social media influencer with nearly 7 million YouTube subscribers and 23 million TikTok followers. After witnessing Brienna’s kindness, the response from viewers was overwhelming. As one TikTok user commented, “A house, $500,000, a job, and free daycare? YOU JUST CHANGED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES!” The video showing Brienna’s initial encounter gained over 5 million likes and sparked a massive fundraising effort.
How the internet responded to Brienna’s story
Dereniowski first featured Brienna in a September 14 video that served as a call to action for donations. Despite her dire circumstances, Brienna shared food with Dereniowski and offered him a blanket, telling him he didn’t need to return it. Her generosity, despite having so little, moved millions of viewers to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign. The story reflects how viral TikTok videos can capture the attention of millions and create positive change in people’s lives.
@mdmotivator “I have half a million dollars for you”
♬ original sound – Zachery Dereniowski#homeless #money #kindness #family #surprise Thank you. You have changed Brienna’s life. Brienna is a single mother struggling with homelessness in Michigan, looking for a roof over her head and a job to take care of her two young babies. You have blessed her with 10 full-time jobs. You have blessed her with free day care for her kids. You have blessed her with a car. You have blessed her with a new home in a safe neighbourhood. You have raised her over $750,000 dollars for her and her babies future. SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. You are PROOF that small acts create big changes. I love each and every one of you that made this possible and support our platform. Be kind and love always
The fundraising effort exceeded all expectations, raising over $750,000 for Brienna and her children. On September 17, Dereniowski returned with extraordinary news. He presented Brienna with an envelope containing 10 full-time job offers and arranged for free daycare services for her children.
The gifts didn’t stop there. Brienna received a new white four-door sedan, a mortgage-free home in a safer neighborhood, and $500,000 in cash for long-term financial security. Dereniowski also connected her with a financial advisor to help manage her newfound wealth and set up college funds for her children.
The video showing Brienna receiving these gifts has garnered over 14 million views in just one day, drawing comparisons to YouTuber MrBeast, who is known for similar charitable acts. MrBeast has built his reputation on giving away massive amounts of money and helping people in need through his philanthropic videos. Dereniowski, a former medical student turned mental health advocate, has previously raised over $238,000 for a homeless man and his autistic son and purchased 1,000 roses for nursing home residents. His platform focuses on spreading kindness and raising mental health awareness through acts of generosity.
