Joe Santagato Says Being Raised by 'Selfless People' Is What Inspired Him to Donate $100K to His New Nonprofit (Exclusive)
Joe Santagato Says Being Raised by 'Selfless People' Is What Inspired Him to Donate $100K to His New Nonprofit (Exclusive)
Tabitha ParentFri, June 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
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Joe Santagato launched 'The Happy Cry Fund' on June 5, kicking off the non-profit's start with a donation of $100,000.Credit: Zach Pelletier:Outtafocus Media -
Joe Santagato is starting a new non-profit
On June 5, The Basement Yard podcast host announced the launch of the organization, called The Happy Cry Fund, which is dedicated to strengthening communities by expanding access to essential resources — and, to kick it off, Santagato has donated $100,000 of his own money
On Instagram, Santagato has a following of over 1.5 million and nearly 3 million on TikTok
Joe Santagato is kicking off the launch of his new non-profit in style.The podcast host, who is one half of the duo behind The Basement Yard(alongside Frank Alvarez), has announced that he is starting The Happy Cry Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to "strengthening communities by expanding access to essential resources."The organization is set to partner with organizations that are focused on hunger relief, as well as mental health and youth development. What's more, Santagato, 34, will be giving $100,000 of his own money to kick off donations.
Santagato tells PEOPLE exclusively that his own upbringing, where he was surrounded by "selfless people who were always looking to help others," has inspired him to give back as he's gotten older and grown his platform."I'm so grateful for the platform I have now that gives me the opportunity to make an impact," he adds. "I'm so excited to start The Happy Cry Fund to find more ways to give back and support causes that matter."Santagato and Alvarez, both 32, are still processing the magnitude of their success, which began as a childhood pipe dream. The cohosts, who grew up on the same block in Queens, have been friends since preschool and started making comedy videos with their friends at a young age.
Since then, they've taken their friendship viral. Just about two years ago, the pair told PEOPLE that they were in shock, having recently sold out Radio City Music Hall. Just a year later, they chatted with PEOPLE again — as they were gearing up to play the pinnacle of New York City venues: Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Santagato has also partnered with PLUS1 for the launch of his newest venture, so that $1 from every ticket from Joe's upcoming tour will go to The Happy Cry Fund.
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The best friend duo, who have been hosting the popular podcast together since 2020, told PEOPLE of their podcast in 2024: "I think we're still trying to figure it out. It's going to hit me a ton of bricks at a certain point."
Joe Santagato on Oct. 29, 2025 in New York City.Credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty
In October 2025, PEOPLE's readers voted in the Sexiest Man Alive Reader's Choice Poll, in categories ranging from Sexiest Country Star to Sexiest TikTok Star.Santagato and Alvarez were nominated in the Sexiest Podcasters category — alongside Las Culturistas' Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers; The Lonely Island'sAndy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer; The Viall Files' Nick Viall; and Seth Meyers, for his eponymous podcast. The comedic media duo ultimately took home the title at the poll's close.In what many might call the oversaturated podcast space, The Basement Yard exists in a league of its own. Santagato and Alvarez don't dole out advice, discuss social issues or share information. They don't really do anything — and that's exactly what their audience loves. They love it so much that the pair have been able to sell out some of the biggest venues in the business — with much more to come.
The Happy Cry Fund is a fiscally sponsored project of PLUS1, a registered 501(c)(3).
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
