Campaign results from the 2019 #LightTheWorld global giving campaign were announced Thursday at a brief press conference at Downtown Summerlin, one of ten locations worldwide and the only location in Las Vegas to host Giving Machines.
A program sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Giving Machines offered patrons a variety of options to donate to local or worldwide charities with the swipe of their credit or debit card to purchase a range of items from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. The goal of the program is to encourage acts of kindness and promote greater awareness of organizations and populations in need.
Now in its third year, Giving Machines raised more than $6.2 million worldwide during the 2019 holiday season with more than $823,000 donated at Giving Machines in Downtown Summerlin from Nov. 14, 2019 through Jan. 2, 2020.
Of the seven beneficiary organizations to which the public could donate through the machine, five are local nonprofits. Collectively, they received more than $470,000 from donors at The Giving Machine with an additional donation from Latter-day Saint Charities to cover the cost of credit card processing fees. Representatives of the following organizations were on hand today to receive their donations:
- Communities In Schools of Nevada: $89,452
- EyeCare 4 Kids: $113,767
- Future Smiles: $54,940
- Opportunity Village: $58,030
- Three Square: $199,555
Among the more popular items purchased by Las Vegans were:
- Chickens – 15,663
- Meals – 347,219
- Sheep – 1,690
- Polio Vaccines – 433,000
- Toothbrushes and Toothpaste – 5,163
- Eyeglasses – 4,156
- Art Kits – 901
- Shoes – 1,374
The Giving Machine is planned to return to Downtown Summerlin for the 2020 holiday season.
