Press Release: From Denver to London, iDE expands presence in annual Light the World campaign - 3 December 2024
iDE to be featured in 20 Giving Machine events across the United States and the United Kingdom, supporting efforts to end global poverty
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stevie Kloeber (email: skloeber@ideglobal.org) or Hannah Moorhouse (email: hmoorhouse@ideglobal.org)
Denver, CO (December 3, 2024) - This holiday season, iDE is once again participating in the Light the World Giving Machines global event, offering people the opportunity to make donations to iDE by purchasing a practical gift from giving-focused vending machines.
From November through early January, cities around the world will activate giving machines where people can select an item for a nonprofit of their choice as easily as buying a candy bar. By choosing from a selection of iDE items such as a chicken, a goat or a water pump, donors will support a family in a low income country with resources that help increase their livelihoods and build prosperity in their communities.
The Giving Machines are part of an annual Light the World seasonal campaign, spearheaded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On December 2, the Church hosted a special reception and festive launch event in New York City’s Times Square where iDE Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Welch, participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“iDE is honored to be featured for the third time in the 2024 Light the World campaign in partnership with the Church” said Welch. “The Giving Machines foster community and spark generosity for others during this season of giving, making it easy for people to give generously to a wide-range of nonprofit organizations with both local and global reach.”
Hannah Moorhouse, iDE senior manager, fund development and Elizabeth Welch, iDE chief executive officer attended the New York City Giving Machine launch event in Times Square on December 2. Photo by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2024.
The machines can be found in more than 100 global locations across 13 countries from the United States to Philippines, from Kenya to Hong Kong. Since 2017, millions of items have been donated through the Giving Machines, the equivalent of more than US$32 million. This year, iDE items can be found in 20 of those locations in both the United States and the United Kingdom representing the iDE's largest presence in the campaign to date.
Every location has a different selection of causes to choose from with more than 500 local and international charities represented globally. Location logistics are led by local and regional volunteers managing all aspects of event planning, nonprofit coordination and event promotion within their communities, with each having their own slate of various events, activities and entertainment to share the joy of the season. The Church covers all program operational expenses, ensuring that 100% of every donation goes to the selected nonprofit.
“Participating in the Light the World Giving Machines for the past three years has played a significant role in our seasonal giving campaign,” said Caitlin Warkentin, iDE’s vice president, fund development. “Not only does it help us raise important funds to fight global poverty but it also has been an invaluable opportunity to share our mission and our impact with a wider audience."
Each location has a different selection of nonprofit organizations and items to choose from. This year, donors choosing to purchase an item* for iDE can select from a chicken, two shovels, farmers workwear, a goat, a water pump, or a sheep. Photo by KC Koch, iDE, 2024. *Available items vary by location.
Each gift designated to iDE will go directly towards our work powering entrepreneurs to end poverty and creating prosperity for communities around the world. This year, iDE items will be available in the following Giving Machine locations:
Anchorage, Alaska
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Boston, Massachusetts
Denver, Colorado
Elko, Nevada
Fairbanks, Alaska
Flagstaff, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Knoxville, Tennessee
Logan, Utah
London, United Kingdom
Manchester, United Kingdom
Mystic, Connecticut
Nashville, Tennessee
New York, New York
Ogden, Utah
Reno, Nevada
Sharon, Vermont
St. George, Utah
2024 Denver Giving Machines launch event at Cherry Creek
About iDE
iDE's mission is to end global poverty, and we believe catalyzing the power of local markets is the best way to do this. We work with local entrepreneurs, with a focus on women, who connect underserved, last-mile markets with products and services that enable people to move up the economic ladder, and that contribute to their wellbeing. Rather than providing cookie-cutter “solutions” that only last for the short term, iDE spends the time required to really understand problems and to co-develop lasting solutions adapted to each context. We work in the sectors of agriculture, WASH, nutrition and climate change resilience across 12 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and we have impacted more than 40 million people to date.