YouTube Marathon Raises Unbelievable Amount For Charity

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YouTube users have proven they care about more than just binging on cute animal videos and funny parodies.

Project For Awesome, an annual YouTube-wide charity marathon, raised a record amount of funds this year -- almost $785,000 as of press time. The online event, held Dec. 17, galvanized users to upload videos of causes with the aim of increasing awareness and raising funds.

Videos supported causes ranging from children's issues to homelessness. Smarter Every Day, a YouTube educator, shared footage from a home for underprivileged children that his charity Not Forgotten is building. And another participant, MoonShoesPatty, made a colorful animation to introduce the charity Child's Play.

The money will be divided among 10 charities voted on by participating community members. Previous recipients include Save the Children, the Alzheimer's Society and the Uncultured Project.

As with past years, this year's project also included a charity auction with various donated items, such as personalized haikus written by rapper George Watsky and footie pajamas worn by vlogger Kristina Horner.

The philosophy behind the initiative is simple, co-founder Hank Green explained to Mashable.

"How is watching your video going to make their lives better...how will supporting the organization in the video make the world better?"

Project for Awesome was founded in 2007 Green and his brother, John, who run the YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, which has more than 1.6 million followers.

John Green, everyone.

The duo launched the project with the simple objective of highlighting worthy causes that needed more attention, and they've gained huge amounts of traction. Donations have increased 10-fold in just the last two years.

Check out some of our favorite videos from this year below. One thing's for sure: They didn't forget to be awesome!

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Alshon Jeffery's Unbelievable Touchdown Catch Highlighted His Record-Setting Game (GIF/VIDEO)

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery broke his own franchise record for receiving yards in a single game as his breakout season continued against the Vikings on Sunday. The second-year emerging star racked up an astounding 249 receiving yards. Two of his 12 catches resulted in touchdowns and one of those scores might be a candidate for "catch of the year."

After an 80-yard touchdown catch gave him the longest score of his career earlier in the third quarter, Jeffrey caught a jaw-dropping 46-yard yard touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Josh McGown, who is starting while Jay Cutler is sidelined by injury. While running along the sideline, Jeffrey leapt to the catch the ball high over his head as Vikings cornerback Chris Cook cut across his path. Not only did Jeffrey make the catch but he managed to keep possession as his momentum took him into Cook and to the ground in the end zone.

(GIF via BuzzFeed Sports)

This was Jeffrey's second 200-yard game this season. He tallied 218 yards against the Saints earlier this season to establish a new franchise single-game receiving yards mark. According to ESPN Stats & Info, there are only two other games in which a Bears receiver had a 200-yard game.. ever.

Unfortunately for Jeffery and the Bears, his career day wasn't good enough to lift the team to a win as the Vikings prevailed 23-20 in overtime. But Chicago fans might take some solace knowing they have not one, but two star receivers. Here are highlights from Jeffery's amazing performance.

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