During the opening weekend for the hit sequel Wicked: For Good, the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, and his young daughter took the time to use a Giving Machine to make a charitable donation.
What Are Giving Machines?
Located around the nation, the vending-machine-style Giving Machines allow givers to choose a price point and an item or service to donate through a participating nonprofit.
In operation since 2017 (with a break for the pandemic), the Giving Machines are part of the Light the World initiative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a k a the LDS Church.
Participating nonprofits include local ones, such as diocesan Catholic Charities, and national/international ones, such as the American Red Cross and CARE.
From a 2024 release from the Archdiocese of New York:
Catholic Charities of New York and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have joined with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) again to participate in the Light The World Giving Machine initiative, launching this year’s campaign in Manhattan’s Times Square on December 2.
Unlike a traditional vending machine, where the buyer pays for the machine to dispense snacks or drinks, the Giving Machine uses those funds to provide much-needed goods or services via the program’s 16 participating charitable organizations. Choices include food packages, medicine and medical supplies, live chickens, and toys and games for children and families in need.
The funds given to the nonprofits come entirely from the individual donors, while the LDS Church provides the volunteer staffers and covers all of the operating costs for the machines and the program.
Watching Charity in Action
Volunteer Katt Santistevan was on duty near the Giving Machines at the AMC Theatres at Los Angeles shopping center The Grove on Sunday, November 23rd.
It was very busy because of Wicked: For Good, with costumes from the film on display — and fans dressed up as characters Glinda and Elphaba.
Santistevan recalls:
It was towards the end of my shift. I was just thinking, it’s been a really slow day at the Giving Machines, which was ironic because it was just so busy.
And I look over to the dresses, and I see a man, a very well-dressed man, with his daughter. And then I see a younger couple, and they’re talking to this man, and I can see that they’re kind of flustered and excited.
Then I saw her work up the courage to ask for a photo. And I knew right away like, “Oh, this is someone, this is someone important.”
And he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. And so after he walked away, I just went over and I said, “Who was that?” And they said, “That’s Jon Chu.” I’m like, “What, here?”
Opening weekend. And he’s just here. No entourage, no fans following him, no security. Just him as a dad with his daughter, being very present.
Chu passed the Giving Machines and asked Santistevan what they were. She explained how they were to donate to charities. She says:
He was like, “That’s so cool.” It’s like, “Let’s donate.” Instantly.
He let his daughter go to the machine. She picked out what she wanted, and there was no hesitation.
I don’t know what they donated. I was giving them their privacy, but afterwards, it was really cute. They high-fived each other, and he was so kind.
Chu Modeling Kindness
Santistevan then asked to take a selfie with Chu. She recalls:
He was just enjoying the moment. He said he came to just see the decor in the movie theater, to see what they did. And it wasn’t about him that night.
The fact that he chose to take time and stop and use this machine and buy something to help someone else … I mean, he could have felt like, “Oh, someone’s going to recognize me. I got to get out of here.”
And usually when you’re with your kids, you’re more protective, right? Don’t want to linger longer. And he just gave me his time, and he was just so sweet.
He didn’t have to. There wasn’t a PR team trailing him. He just did it because it felt good. He wanted his daughter to get to have that feeling of giving back. And I love that.
And I said recently, in the movie, it says, “No one mourns the wicked.” But we do remember the kind acts. We remember the good, for sure. And I’ll remember that.
If you haven’t seen Wicked: For Good yet, here’s the trailer for the sequel to 2024’s Wicked:
Images: See captions
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