WATCH: Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo Join Others at CNN to Promote #TeamBeans Hat Fundraiser for Pediatric Cancer Research

By Sarah RumpfMar 11th, 2021, 11:52 pm
 
#TeamBeans lemon cuomo

Screenshot via CNN.

CNN’s Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon often banter — and bicker — during the transition between their two shows at 10 p.m., but Thursday night’s handoff of the television baton had a special message to support pediatric cancer research, in honor of the daughter of one of their network colleagues.

CNN investigative reporter, Andrew Kaczynski, and his wife, Wall Street Journal’s Rachel Ensign, lost their baby daughter Francesca — nicknamed “Beans”— on Christmas Eve last year to a rare type of brain tumor.

Thursday would have been Beans’ first birthday and CNN launched a fundraiser at TeamBeans.shop, selling black Carhartt beanie hats with #TeamBeans embroidered on them. The money raised will go to pediatric cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cuomo wrapped his Thursday show calling it “a tough night,” as it was both the one-year anniversary of Covid-19 being declared a pandemic, and was also Beans’ birthday.

“There’s something else today should have been,” said Cuomo. “Today would also have been the first birthday for a very special little girl to us: Francesca Kaczynski, known forever as Beans. That’s what they called her. The daughter of our good friend and colleague, Andrew, the brain behind the K-File, investigative genius. His wife, Rachel Ensign. Beans smiled bravely in the face of another health monster, a rare form of brain cancer. She fought. They fought. They moved. They did everything. They believed. They loved. Inspired all of us.”

“I want you to be on Team Beans,” Cuomo continued, holding up the #TeamBeans hat, explaining that he was going to auction off the hat on Twitter to the highest bidder, and encouraging viewers to buy their own on the CNN website. “If we can raise money and help another family, what a beautiful thing. Teambeans.shop. I’ll tweet out the link. If you want this hat, make me an offer.”

Lemon then joined Cuomo in urging their audience to support the fundraiser, and said that he had worn his hat earlier in the day, plus a face mask that honored the memory of Scott Beigel, a teacher who had died in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“Not one more child should have to deal with this,” Lemon said. “Not one more family should have to deal with it.”

“We can make a difference,” Cuomo added. “Andrew and his wife — special people who fought a hell of a fight and really did it in an inspirational way…I’ve never seen people come together around their kid any better than they did and made all of us love them and Beans.”

Numerous CNN Twitter accounts posted their support for the #TeamBeans fundraiser as well.

Kaczynski tweeted his heartfelt gratitude Thursday evening in response.

Watch the video clips above, via CNN.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

Filed Under: