Grace College student and host of Beyond the Brick, Joshua Hanlon.

WINONA LAKE — Beyond the Brick, a Michiana-based YouTube show hosted by Grace College senior Joshua Hanlon, will hold its third annual “Creations for Charity” 24-hour livestream on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26. The web event will raise money to purchase LEGO sets for children in need this Christmas. The live stream begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Beyond the Brick’s Creations for Charity event will feature all-things LEGO, from set construction to interviews with some of the world’s top brick builders. In the past two years, the one-day live stream has raised nearly $10,000 worth of LEGO sets for children during the holidays.

“LEGO was a big part of my childhood,” said Hanlon. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help other children experience LEGO and all of the creativity and exploration that comes with LEGO building.” All funds raised during Creations for Charity will be used to purchase LEGO sets for children in need. Hanlon plans to distribute most of the sets to a South Bend hospital “because kids there need toys to occupy them while they recover,” he said. Hanlon recounts a story from a young boy with cancer who was confined to a hospital. “He told me that watching Beyond the Brick was the highlight of his day as he went through cancer treatments in the hospital. I can’t think of a better place to donate LEGO sets and make a difference in kids’ lives,” he said.

Beyond the Brick was created by Hanlon in 2011. Attracting more than three million YouTube views a month, Hanlon and his brother and cameraman, John, travel the world to spotlight jaw-dropping LEGO creations built by adult artists. More than 100,000 YouTube subscribers and 800 videos later, Beyond the Brick is one of the most popular online destinations for LEGO enthusiasts across the globe.

“My favorite thing about YouTube is the potential global impact through posting videos there,” said Hanlon. “Children, teens and adults from all over the world – from Brazil to Australia to Norway – can watch Beyond the Brick and be inspired by builders sharing their wonderful creations.”

The show grew out of Hanlon’s desire to highlight talented builders in the LEGO community. “My goal is to talk with these builders and discover what inspired them, and then share their tips and insights with our viewers,” he said. “Beyond the Brick has helped bring people together in a way that I never would have thought possible.”

LEGO fans worldwide are invited to watch and participate in the conversation Nov. 25 and 26. The Creations for Charity event will be produced on the Beyond the Brick TV YouTube channel. For more information on the event and to link to the live stream, visit online. Those interested in donating to purchase LEGO sets for children in need can do so through PayPal.