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This Star Won't Go Out (charity)

charity · in 44 videos (2010–2026)

Includes: Project Lovely

Videos by year: 2010: 4 · 2011: 14 · 2012: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2026: 4

Also known as: TSWGO, This Star Won't Go Out Foundation

Threads

Also named in the threads: Thoughts From Places: the vlogbrothers' series of visual essays from places (2010) · Death of Nerdfighter Esther Earl, John's friend (2010) · Bank of Nerdfighteria: the Nerdfighters' Kiva lending team · Hank asks viewers to vote at projectforawesome.com for the charities of P4A 2011 videos they like (2011) · John asks viewers to pre-order This Star Won't Go Out, Esther Earl's book (2013) · This Star Won't Go Out: book of Esther Earl's writings with John's introduction (2013) · P4A 2013 edition · P4A 2014 edition · John asks viewers to vote carefully for P4A 2014 charities at projectforawesome.com (2014) · P4A 2015 edition · The brothers ask viewers to join the annual Esther Day livestream party (2021)

Same name, different thing

This Star Won't Go Out (book)

Often together

What comes up in the same parts of the videos; the number is how many parts.

Esther Earl (23) · This Star Won't Go Out (book) (5) · Esther Day (12) · Save the Children (7) · cancer (7) · Project for Awesome (13) · DFTBA Records (8) · world suck (5) · Alan Lastufka (2) · Foundation to Decrease World Suck (3)

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2010

  • 2010-08-27 · Rest In Awesome, Esther — John: Esther means 'star', and her friends printed a bracelet reading 'This Star Won't Go Out'; John says it won't: we won't let it. — 00:02:40
  • 2010-10-27 · You Are Awesome — announcement: John: Answering Nerdfighters who asked where to get a 'This Star Won't Go Out' bracelet like his, John says they are now sold at DFTBA.com/Esther. — 00:00:42
    • John says they bought the bracelets and Alan at DFTBA Records processes and packages every order free, so 100% of the money goes to the This Star Won't Go Out Foundation. — 00:00:42
    • John says the bracelets honor Esther Earl, the brothers' friend and fellow Nerdfighter who died a couple of months ago from cancer. — 00:00:42
    • John describes the This Star Won't Go Out Foundation as a new organization founded by Esther's family to help other families with kids who have cancer. — 00:01:11
    • John calls the foundation another way to work with Esther to make the world suck less and urges viewers to get a bracelet at DFTBA.com/Esther. — 00:01:11
    • John says the $540 is not his money but Nerdfighteria's, so Nerdfighters must decide where it goes, and asks them to say so in the comments. — 00:02:04
    • John's inclination is to give it to This Star Won't Go Out and then hold a matching BlogTV fundraiser for the Uncultured Project and Save the Children, or the reverse, or something else. (hedged) — 00:02:04
  • 2010-11-01 · Consider the Lemming — ask: John: Reminded by the pumpkin, John tells Nerdfighters to get their Esther bracelets. — 00:03:15
    • John thanks the many Nerdfighters who made Nerdfightastic pumpkins this year (2010); his favorite is a This Star Won't Go Out pumpkin. — 00:03:15
  • …and 1 statement more in 2010 — all statements of 2010

2011

  • 2011-06-10 · Then I Took Off My Bra — ask: John reminds viewers This Star Won't Go Out bracelets are at DFTBA.com, with 100% of proceeds to the foundation set up in Esther Earl's memory to support families affected by cancer. — 00:01:44
    • John says that in the almost ten months since Esther died, more than $10,000 has been raised for This Star Won't Go Out, and thanks Nerdfighteria. — 00:02:02
  • 2011-11-02 · LECTROJOG! — announcement: John announces that as part of P4A 2011 the Foundation to Decrease World Suck comes back, with no stupid stuff: Nerdfighteria will pool money and choose together how to spend it to decrease the most world suck. — 00:01:07
  • 2011-11-09 · 27 Part Video — announcement: Hank announces the Project for Awesome is happening again this year (2011) on December 17th. — 00:02:40
  • 2011-11-11 · The Bank of Nerdfighteria — John: With the brothers' match, the Foundation to Decrease World Suck has already raised more than $8,000, to be distributed through the Project for Awesome. — 00:01:23
  • 2011-11-28 · Stuffed with STUFF! — ask: Hank: The Project for Awesome happens again on December 17th and 18th; Hank asks viewers to make, curate and promote videos then and clear their schedules. — 00:03:24
  • 2011-12-12 (said on 2011-12-11, implied) · Our Grandfather — announcement: Hank: Viewers will be able to vote for the charities in P4A videos; the most-voted charities get a piece of the money being raised for P4A, already over $10,000. — 00:03:27
  • 2011-12-16 · Project for Awesome Logistics — announcement: Hank: The official time to upload P4A videos is noon Eastern time tomorrow, Saturday, December 17th. — 00:00:00
  • 2011-12-17 · We Built a Well in Haiti — ask: Hank asks viewers to vote for Water.org at projectforawesome.com so it gets a share of the Project for Awesome fund. — 00:01:53
  • 2011-12-19 · Sharpie Face and Little Hank: The Project for Awesome's Aftermath — John: In the last 48 hours the Foundation to Decrease World Suck raised $75,000. — 00:00:03
  • 2011-12-26 · Project for Awesome and Truth or Fail — Hank announces the P4A charities by votes: Kids in Need of Desks fifth (915), Kiva fourth (1,043), the Harry Potter Alliance third (1,393), Water.org second (2,000), This Star Won't Go Out first (2,224). — 00:00:00
    • Each of the five charities will receive $14,269.22: the roughly $71,000 raised for the Foundation to Decrease World Suck divided by five. — 00:00:58
  • …and 19 statements more in 2011 — all statements of 2011

2012

  • 2012-03-13 · Actually Free Money! (Really.) The Bank of Nerdfighteria's Quarterly Report — John says more than $16,500 went to each of five charities chosen by Nerdfighteria: Kids in Need of Desks, This Star Won't Go Out, the HP Alliance, Water.org and Kiva. — 00:00:59
    • John thanks Nerdfighters for their hard work during the Project for Awesome and points to how much suck was decreased. — 00:01:24
  • 2012-07-31 · Nerd Olympics — ask: John: Viewers can enter a t-shirt design contest for This Star Won't Go Out, the organization Esther's family set up in her memory. — 00:02:03
  • 2012-09-14 · 1000 VIDEOS!!! — Hank lists results: $300,000 and thousands of videos for charities through P4A, thousands of This Star Won't Go Out bracelets, over $1,000,000 lent through the Nerdfighter Kiva group, hundreds of Thoughts from Places. — 00:01:04
  • 2012-09-25 · Do Businesses Need to Suck? — John notes Nerdfighters make awesome things: a Nerdfighter from Britain's Got Talent's first album, Elmify's Etsy store, This Star Won't Go Out banners in Nerdcrafteria; only some have commercial life. — 00:00:29
    • John reminds viewers they can order Esther bracelets, with proceeds going to This Star Won't Go Out, which supports children with cancer and their families. — 00:03:24
    • John announces that 19-year-old Tatyana from Kazakhstan designed the winning This Star Won't Go Out contest shirt, now on pre-order at DFTBA.com. — 00:03:24
  • 2012-12-11 · Economics and Dentistry: YOUTUBE'S FAVORITE TOPICS — John says that after last year's (2011) Project for Awesome the Foundation to Decrease World Suck gave more than $80,000 to five charities chosen by the YouTube community, leaving it broke. — 00:00:29

Also named in: I Don't Understand My Life

2013

  • 2013-08-03 · Esther Day 2013 — ask: The description asks viewers to support This Star Won't Go Out, the charity Esther's family created in her memory, at tswgo.org or by buying TSWGO merchandise at DFTBA (all proceeds to the foundation). — video description · also in: Happy Esther Day!

2014

  • 2014-01-14 · Giving Away Over $700,000 — announcement: John: The ten $50,000 winners: Harry Potter Alliance, This Star Won't Go Out, Not Forgotten, Save the Children, Liberty in North Korea, Child's Play, Thirst Project, Water.org, Partners for Mental Health, TECHO. — 00:01:07
    • John describes This Star Won't Go Out as set up in memory of Esther Earl to give direct support to families of kids with cancer. — 00:01:15

2015

2017

  • 2017-02-28 · You Are Here — John: On Saturday (25 February 2017) John visited Esther's grave with her parents and one of her sisters; many Nerdfighters have visited over the years, leaving artwork, keychains and This Star Won't Go Out bracelets. — 00:00:34
  • 2017-08-03 · HAPPY ESTHER DAY!!! — ask: The description asks viewers to apply for a $5,000 grant from This Star Won't Go Out to make the world better. — video description
    • John says that after Esther died her family created This Star Won't Go Out, a charity that has helped many families of kids with cancer. — 00:01:05
    • John announces Project Lovely, This Star Won't Go Out's expanded mission: people aged 13 to 30 can apply for a $5,000 grant to make the world better; two will be chosen and followed. — 00:01:12
    • John tells viewers who want to donate to This Star Won't Go Out that they can do so at TSWGO.org. — 00:01:48
    • John highly recommends Esther's memoir This Star Won't Go Out, a beautiful book available wherever books are sold. — 00:01:53

2019

2020

  • 2020-08-03 · you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. — ask: The description and John's channel comment invite viewers to support and learn about This Star Won't Go Out at tswgo.org. — video description
    • Esther's family started This Star Won't Go Out in her memory; it gives direct relief to families with sick kids and grants to young creative people. — 00:00:52
    • Through the charity, her family and her friends, John says he still feels Esther's presence. — 00:01:05

2021

  • 2021-08-03 · I L*** Hank — John: Esther died a few weeks after the first Esther Day in 2010, aged 16; her parents then founded This Star Won't Go Out, which gives direct financial support to families of kids with cancer. — 00:00:58
    • Childhood cancer treatment can be very expensive in the US, with indirect costs such as a parent leaving work; the charity helps families spend more time with their kids. — 00:00:58
    • Tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern, This Star Won't Go Out's annual gala is virtual and free, with special guests including Sarah Urist Green and chances to donate. — 00:01:27
    • John recommends that viewers new to Nerdfighteria read Esther's book, also called This Star Won't Go Out. — 00:01:56
    • John sees the response in thousands celebrating Esther Day, the community's commitment to child health including pediatric cancer care in impoverished communities, and support for This Star Won't Go Out. — 00:02:26
    • In a P.S. John says he really hopes to see viewers at tonight's Esther Day Gala, linked in the description. — 00:03:25

2022

  • 2022-08-03 · Why is it So Hard to Say 'I Love You'? — announcement: Hank announces an Esther Day livestream tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern with people from This Star Won't Go Out, Esther's family, John and Sarah, and the Animal Wonders folks. — 00:02:40
    • Hank announces a t-shirt designed by Karen Hallion whose proceeds all go to This Star Won't Go Out, a charity that helps families with sick kids. — 00:02:40

2023

  • 2023-08-03 · I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. — John says Esther's family set up This Star Won't Go Out, giving direct financial support to families of kids with cancer, and he understands better than ever how much it helps. — 00:02:46
    • John encourages viewers to check out This Star Won't Go Out and donate if they can, at tswgo.org. — 00:03:16

2024

  • 2024-06-21 · I Was So Sad that I Did Comedy — announcement: The description says Dropout also sells a 'Pissing Out Cancer' shirt with all proceeds going to This Star Won't Go Out. — video description
  • 2024-08-03 · I Love Hank. (Also I'm back.) — John: The celebration will also discuss This Star Won't Go Out, the charity Esther's family founded in her memory, which financially supports kids with cancer and their families. — 00:02:45

2026

  • 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 Kickoff! — John says the P4A makes meaningful change: community health workers hired in Lesotho, Save the Children's work in refugee camps he visited on the Syrian border, and small charities like This Star Won't Go Out. — 01:24:38
  • 2026-02-14 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 3! — announcement: John says the current featured P4A video is from This Star Won't Go Out. — 00:36:58
    • John dedicated The Fault in Our Stars to Esther Earl, a Nerdfighter who lived with cancer and in whose memory This Star Won't Go Out was founded; she and her family were and are good friends. — 00:38:42
    • John says Esther Earl's family runs This Star Won't Go Out, which gives families of sick children the financial support they lacked: for bills, hospital travel and time off work. — 00:39:08
  • 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! — John asks people not to donate if they cannot afford it: deciding where the money goes matters as much as raising it, since the P4A has always crowdfunded the money and crowdsourced its destination, from big organizations to small ones. — 03:01:29
  • …and 1 statement more in 2026 — all statements of 2026