A Movie to Inspire Philanthropy

VIDEO: Little Red Wagon movie trailer

Zach Bonner, a carrot-topped boy of six, lives in Tampa with his mom and sister when, in 2004, Hurricane Charley hits. In the wake of the devastation, Zach is inspired to use his beat-up toy wagon to collect water, food, and clothing for the families left homeless by the storm.

These modest beginnings lead Zach on an adventure that eventually takes him to the White House. It is a tale based upon a true story and now told in the feature film Little Red Wagon, which was funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and directed by David Anspaugh, who previously directed Rudy and Hoosiers. “Zach is the most extraordinary, ordinary child I’ve ever met,” says Michael Guillen, producer of Little Red Wagon. “The film celebrates the spirit of philanthropy in a way that I hope will resonate with audiences everywhere.”

In other words, Little Red Wagon is not just a movie. It is the seed for a movement. “One measure of success will be whether we can go on to make more movies and perhaps also influence Hollywood to see the value of narratives that inspire philanthropy,” Guillen explains. The story of Zach Bonner, who is now 14 years old, may also suggest to individuals that they, too, can start up their own foundations. Websites like GiveBack make this very simple. “Kids can become Bill and Melinda Gates in miniature,” Guillen says. “They can designate which charities they want to support and ask family members to donate money to their foundation.” It is such countless small acts of kindness that bring about social transformation. “As Dr. Jack Templeton says, it creates a ‘me too’ culture. This is ultimately what the movie is about,” Guillen adds.

Guillen experienced firsthand the potential power of the moving image to inspire change while working in television. When he was teaching physics at Harvard, he also hosted a local TV show about science called Time, Tides and Tuning Forks. It won an Emmy Award. “It was exhilarating,” Guillen explains. “Viewers are educated but also moved emotionally. The medium works on all sorts of dimensions.” The experience led to him setting up his own production company and hosting programs for the History Channel, among others.

Producer Michael Guillen, Zach Bonner, and Dr. Jack Templeton before the premiere of Little Red Wagon

Then, in November 2006, Guillen received a call from Dr. Templeton. He asked Guillen whether he would be interested in developing programs that would first, inspire generosity in viewers, and second, educate them about American philanthropic foundations. “The extensive network of foundations that exist in the US—from those that are very large and well known, to those set up by individuals to focus on otherwise hidden, local needs—is unique in the world,” explains Guillen. “They form the philanthropic infrastructure of our country, being responsible for everything from public libraries to painted stripes on the highway.”

With Dr. Templeton’s mission in mind, Guillen decided to think boldly. He might have devised a documentary that explored the world of the foundations, but a more ambitious proposition began to take shape: to make a movie. “Movies can reach a far wider audience, nationally and internationally,” Guillen notes. “They move people and spur them to action.” Six years later, Little Red Wagon is the result.

But Guillen had another idea, too. The internet was just beginning to emerge as a serious medium for moving pictures. Guillen and his team explored several possibilities in this new realm, and eventually devised a partnership with AOL, creating a philanthropy project website linked to AOL News. “Content for the site was sought from the brightest young filmmakers from the major film schools in the country,” Guillen continues. “We awarded ten scholarships and the students loved it. The schools felt, too, that the project exposed students to the world of philanthropy, enriching their education.” The result was a series of exceptional short films. “Each one was a gem and aired on AOL, reaching tens of millions of viewers over two years,” Guillen adds.

The new feature-length movie, Little Red Wagon, which has received the official Seal of Approval by the Parents Television Council, is currently on rolling release, having opened in Philadelphia theaters earlier this month. Full details of theater screenings for Little Red Wagon are available online. “Zach Bonner exemplifies the philanthropic spirit that Sir John would like to inspire in all people,” says Christopher Stawski, director of Strategic Program Initiatives at the Foundation. “Little Red Wagon highlights the virtues of generosity and philanthropy, but also values of compassion, constructive thinking, entrepreneurship, love, and purpose that the Foundation seeks to promote.”

The project as a whole is now in a second exciting phase, having formed a joint venture with Endemol, the single largest production company in the world. “The company was drawn by the idea of producing programming with philanthropic aims,” Guillen explains. “We are now in conversation with a number of major corporate and philanthropic organizations, hoping that the result will enable us to begin producing films for the web, as well as other possibilities.”

Major Conference on Science and Religion to be Streamed Live

Later this month, the University of Heidelberg in Germany and the John Templeton Foundation will host a major conference assessing the current state of the academic study of science and religion, as well as the promising prospects for its future. The gathering of leading scholars from October 25–29, 2012, will be streamed live on the internet. Questions can also be submitted to the experts online.

The Science and Religion Dialogue: Past and Future will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Templeton and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the John Templeton Foundation. The conference is hosted by Michael Welker, professor of systematic theology at the University of Heidelberg. The opening program and academic panels, with nearly 50 distinguished speakers from around the world, include Martin Nowak, John Polkinghorne, Owen Gingerich, and Simon Conway Morris.

Questions to be addressed range from what makes faith rational in an age of science, to cosmology and the human condition. Part of the conference will be given over to young scholars and prospective future leaders in the field of science and religion.

Spirituality, Health, and the Medicalization of Faith

Does the current interest in religious practices and well-being risk turning faith into a medical commodity? What do religious traditions teach about the link between faith and health? Is it theologically mistaken to test the effects of spiritual practices on the body?

Such questions are raised in a new book, Healing to All Their Flesh: Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Spirituality, Theology, and Health, edited by Jeff Levin and Keith G. Meador, and published by Templeton Press.

The collection of essays comes at a crucial time. There is burgeoning interest in the links between medical and spiritual care, and how the one complements the other. Careful theological reflection is needed to make good sense of these connections. In particular, the authors are concerned with the possibility that religion may be promoted as a remedy, like a form of medication. Not only would this misunderstand the nature of faith, but it may place a terrible burden on people who are already suffering if the “medication” is deemed unsuccessful.