BYU-Hawaii students said they thought donating $1.8 million of the proceeds of the film “Meet the Mormons” to the American Red Cross shows the world who the people of the LDS Church really are. “Because of this long-standing relationship [with the American Red Cross] it was decided that when ‘Meet the Mormons’ was released we would take the new proceeds of the movie and give it to the American Red Cross,” said Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson, who presented the check as a representative of LDS Charities to Cliff Holts, president of Humanitarian Services of the American Red Cross on March 19. Clair Beutler, from California and a sophomore in elementary education, said, “I loved the movie and it is great to see our church continuing to show the media who we really are. I know the movie broke a lot of bad Mormon stereotypes and I hope that this just backs it up.”According to Mormon Newsroom, CEO and president of the American Red Cross, Gail J. McGrovern said the church has responded with a great deal of people to help in the aftermath of many disasters all overthe world. Chloe Dean, a junior psychology major from California, saw “Meet the Mormons” and said, like the movie, this is a great way for the church to show its positive demeanor in the media. “Our church does a lot of great things of service for this world, and we normally don’t publicize about it,” Dean said. “By using the movie money, which brought a lot of good attention to the church, to donate to a good cause shows the nature of this church andits organization.”Mormon Newsroom said, “Heidi Ruster, chief executive officer of the Utah region of the Red Cross, remarked how the Church has been an active partner not only in Utah but also around the world. She said, ‘A surprise this year from the Church was the donation of the net proceeds… We are so thankful and grateful for that.’”The church’s statement from the beginning of the opening of the documentary said the net box office proceeds would be donated to the American Red Cross, reported Mormon Newsroom. “Meet the Mormons” opened in theaters on Oct. 10, 2014 and “exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said Stevenson about the feature-length documentary. The total U.S box office revenue was about $6 million, reported Mormon Newsroom.Justin Kolilis, junior exercise and sports science major from Washington, said, “As members, we believe in being charitable and donating that money to the American Red Cross was a great example to the world of who we are.”For about 100 years the LDS Church and the Red Cross have been working together, reported Mormon Newsroom. “During World War I, the women’s Relief Society of the church joined with the Red Cross as they participated in food production and conservation, fund drives, sanitation, child welfare work and other service. The Relief Society also collaborated with the Red Cross in the early 1900s when more than 10,000 Relief Society sisters completed Red Cross courses in home nursing, first aid and nutrition.” Uploaded April 2, 2015
Writer: Jessica Everette
