Meeting Jon M. Chu, the brains behind “Wicked,” was like meeting The Wizard — but instead of the over-the-top production Katt Santistevan expected, Chu was quiet, kind and generous.
Chu and his daughter quietly arrived at The Grove in Los Angeles during the final stretch of a sluggish volunteer shift at the Light the World Giving Machines for Santistevan, a first-year volunteer for the Giving Machines in Southern California.
It was opening weekend for “Wicked: For Good.” The luxury Los Angeles mall, The Grove, was dressed up in “Wicked” decorations and die-hard fans of the musical crowded the marquee outside the mall’s movie theater in green and pink costumes.
An installation showcasing costumes from “Wicked” and other behind-the-scenes items from the movies was also set up in the marquee. In the corner of the space are two Light the World Giving Machines — red charity vending machines that allow visitors to donate items to local and international charities, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The two-part musical’s director, Chu, and his daughter discreetly roamed the area. Aside from one excited “Wicked” fan, no one in the theater approached — or even recognized — Chu.
When Chu walked toward Santistevan, she took the opportunity to briefly praise his directorial work. Chu asked about the Giving Machines, which he seemed “genuinely curious” about.
After explaining to Chu how the Giving Machines work, the director and his daughter were “eager” to make a donation, Santistevan said.
“He thought it was really cool. He had never seen anything like it. (Chu thought it was) a cool concept, an easy way to give back and a cool thing that he could share with his daughter.”
Chu let his daughter choose an item to donate from the charity vending machine and then the pair celebrated the moment with a high-five.
“They were so excited,” Santistevan said. “It was such a cute, real moment of a dad out with his daughter, being so kind and not even hesitating to do good.”
“He was a very in-the-moment dad, very present,” she added. “(His daughter) chose something that meant something to her ... and then he left as quietly as he came. It was a very sweet interaction.”
The second act in Chu’s film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” debuted in theaters pre-Thanksgiving weekend, raking in more than $147 million in domestic ticket sales and $223 million worldwide.
“Wicked: For Good” is the third-highest earning domestic opening of 2025 and holds the crown for the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation ever, previously worn by its predecessor.
For a director-of-the-moment, Santistevan was impressed with Chu’s humility.
“I just think it just proves that anyone can donate,” she said. “And it’s so easy.”
Chu and many other Hollywood locals will be exposed to the Giving Machines for the first time this year, as the charity campaign expands to 126 cities in 21 countries during the 2025 holiday season. Installing the red vending machines in The Grove is part of that expansion.
Since the giving initiative launched in 2017, there were no kiosks in any part of Southern California, said Kristin Samuelian, the area director for the Southern California Giving Machines. Introducing machines in LA was “really, really exciting,” she added.
The Giving Machines, which are part of the Light the World initiative, allow visitors to donate clothing, hygienic supplies, education, shelter, and even goats and chickens to those in need. Each kiosk is localized, and allows visitors to make donations to local needs.
In LA, the machines offer several items that are focused on rebuilding efforts in the wake of the destructive wildfires that hit Palisades and Altadena in January.
“Most of The Giving Machine Los Angeles, The Grove is dedicated to the rebuild effort. So 20 of the cards in there are helping families, small businesses, rebuilding parks,” said Samuelian. “We have an opportunity for people to buy benches and trees, really rebuild their community.”
She continued, “That’s why the campaign is so successful, is that even though there are cards in there for global initiatives which are really important and valuable, the dollars that are raised by the community get to stay in the community because they’re all local community charities.
“I think that makes people feel really extra good about the donation, because they’re going to see it in their in their own neighborhood.”