Johnny Ruffo’s final act of generosity shines in heartwarming footage

The late Australian entertainer Johnny Ruffo has managed to capture our hearts one last time with a final act of generosity.

Heartwarming footage recently surfaced, showcasing the beloved artist performing as part of Amazon Australia’s Christmas music video campaign to help raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

The beloved singer and actor, who sadly passed away following a long battle with brain cancer on November 10, graced us with a heartwarming rendition of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) alongside children from the Starlight Foundation and the singer Budjerah.

In the delightful video, filmed earlier this year, the former Home and Away star was beaming with joy as he showcased his musical prowess on a toy xylophone. The performance aimed to not only spread cheer but also to raise funds for the Starlight Foundation, while exemplifying the late artist’s commitment to making a positive impact even during challenging times.

 

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While filming the music video, Ruffo shared his excitement about contributing to the campaign and the joy it brought to the children he had the pleasure of performing alongside.

“Being part of this campaign for so many years, you would think I wouldn’t be surprised by what these kids can do but they continue to surprise me with their creativity,” he said at the time.

“I was particularly excited to see the kids in action in the music video as being a singer myself, it was so incredible to see the joy it brought them.”

General Manager at Amazon Australia Matthew Benham praised Ruffo for his “passionate commitment” to the campaign.

“We have been appointing Playmakers to test our top 100 toys since 2019 and one thing that has remained constant since we began, is Johnny Ruffo and his passionate commitment,” Benham said.

“He will be sorely missed and we feel humbled to have had him feature as part of the music video with the kids. We thank Johnny’s family for letting us share this video to hopefully deliver joy to more kids across the country, something Johnny was so committed to.

“Johnny helped Budjerah and the Playmakers create something really special that we hope helps shine a light on the incredible work that Starlight does and provide some additional support.”

In support of Starlight Children’s Foundation and their mission of bringing joy to seriously ill children, Amazon Australia has pledged to contribute $1 to the foundation for every view of the music video, with a generous commitment of up to $100,000. The video can be viewed here.

The heartwarming footage comes as fans and those close to the 35-year-old continue to grieve his tragic passing.

Friends and family were recently given the opportunity to bid a final farewell to the beloved Ruffo at his memorial service held on Saturday, November 25.

Emotions ran high as the more than 500-strong congregation gathered in the main hall of Ruffo’s former Balcatta High School to pay their respects and celebrate his life.

Ruffo’s girlfriend Tahnee Sims was among those who delivered an emotional tribute to the late star, revealing that she will be “forever grateful” for the “kind of love” she experienced with Ruffo.

Ruffo’s former Home and Away co-star Lynne McGranger delivered a eulogy in which she explained that despite his success, Ruffo’s humility remained unwavering.