#BaconToPayson
Photo Credit: Melissa Majchrzak
Payson, Utah – On April 20, 2024, Kevin Bacon, SixDegrees.org, Payson High School, and the greater Payson community banded together to assemble and distribute 5,000 essential resource kits to young people in need of resources throughout Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. They also teamed up with the Utah Film Commission in celebration of 100 years of film and television in Utah. This is part of SixDegrees.org’s initiative launched on Giving Tuesday to distribute 40,000 kits through their Building Kits by Kevin Bacon (BKxKB) program to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of “Footloose.”
In the fall of 2023, the students at Payson High School, made famous as the set location for Bacon’s iconic film, launched a social media campaign to bring #BaconToPayson before the site was permanently closed and demolished following the 2023-34 school year. From cardboard cutouts of Bacon to “Footloose” flash mobs, these young people were on a mission to capture the star’s attention.
“It's inspiring to see the dedication of these students and the community as a whole. Payson was just as welcoming as my first time here 40 years ago. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and today's event truly showcases what happens when we show up for one another,” reflected Kevin Bacon.
More than 1,000 volunteers descended onto the Payson High football field on Saturday, April 20 before the school’s ‘Everybody Cut Footloose’ Prom to show what is possible when we come together.
Photo Credit: Melissa Majchrzak
Generous contributions from partners, both financial and in-kind, made this event possible. The milestone event facilitated over $865,000 worth of product distribution, totaling 121,900 items, and involved over 3,000 volunteer hours. Notable brand partners contributing included Bombas, BetterHelp, Hachette Book Group, and Nu Skin, among others. Financial support was provided by the Larry H and Gail Miller Foundation, The Utah Film Commission, The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Forvis, Lehi Roller Mills, Adobe, and various individual donors.
Stacy Huston, Executive Director of SixDegrees.org, reflected on the event's impact: "Today, everyone had a chance to witness the true essence of collective impact. From the visionary students who ignited this campaign to the generous brand partners who provided invaluable resources, from the individuals who donated to the local partners who lent their support in logistics and beyond—this event was truly a recipe for success. Together, we raised $1.1 million in in-kind products or services during this activation, benefitting four incredible organizations. This is the power of unity in action."
Four Utah-based nonprofit organizations were chosen as beneficiaries, aligning with SixDegrees.org's focus on youth empowerment, justice, equity, sustainable living environments, and emerging crises. Encircle, Centro De La Familia, Spy Hop, and Food and Care Coalition each received 1,250 essential care kits, including basic hygiene items, socks, journals, reusable water bottles, shelf-stable goods, and three months of free counseling, among other comforts. These kits empower them to divert resources to their core programming more effectively while amplifying their work to a wider audience.
Special thanks to Express, Payson Fruit Growers, Cort, Move For Hunger, Walmart, Smith’s, Costco Wholesale, The Handmade Soup Co., Campbell Snack Company, Payson Utah, GoGo Squeeze Active, Promise 2 Live, Central Bank, Chubby’s Cafe, Clarion Gardens, MJG Signals, Olson’s Garden Shoppe, Payson Market, and Utah Office of Tourism.