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Disney/Pixar "Up"
Whether you consider it corporate responsibility, or a simple, compassionate and humanistic response to a child’s dying wish, Pixar a Disney Company answered it.
This morning, as reported in the Orange County Register, a corporate act of kindness by Pixar went viral on-line and on network newscasts in less than 24 hours.
It is apparent Pixar had no idea that their response would generate an outpouring of admiration for their generous and unpublicized moment.
The company had answered a call from Terrell Orum, a family friend of ten-year-old Colby Curtin, who was stricken with incurable vascular cancer.
Curtin, who had spent the last three-plus years battling her disease and wanted one last wish before leaving her family and friends— to see Disney/Pixar’s latest blockbuster release “Up”, which opened in theatres nationwide on May 29, was granted her wish in true Disney fashion, and given a real “dream is a wish your heart makes,”
The ten-year-old’s disease had progressed rapidly in her last weeks and she was unable to be moved to a theater to view the film, so Pixar answered the request and sent a company representative who flew from the corporate offices in Emeryville (near San Francisco) to visit the Huntington Beach, California Curtin home with a DVD copy of the film along with a with a bag of the movie’s merchandising items, which included stuffed animals, a movie poster and an "adventure book" that was based on a scrapbook featured in the film.
In the movie, the main character, Carl Friedricksen, only after his wife dies, goes on to fulfill dreams of adventure that fate never allowed them to discover together as a couple.
The private screening, with the Pixar representative present, took place in the Colby home and according to press reports, another family friend, Carole Lynch who was also there during the screening said, "He couldn't have been nicer. His eyes were just welled up."
Colby, who was so ill that her mother had to describe what was taking place on-screen, passed away just seven hours later.
“Up" is the 3-D animated tale of a grumpy old man who sets off on his grand adventure to South America by setting his house aloft with massive amounts of balloons.
This morning, in memoriam to Colby’s passing, her classmates at Newport Elementary School in Newport Beach, released a bouquet of 60 pink balloons.
And, the kindness of Disney's Pixar will not be forgotten as well.
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Comments
This is such a touching story. God bless this family, and rest well beautiful Colby.
What a reunion it will be when your family again you will see.
I agree with you Richard, and I too was deeply moved by this act of kindness.
My faith is restored. Both in the act of kindness, and the reporting of it!
Thank you Robyn, that's very kind of you to say that.
For all of the jaded people who may dismiss this act as just another "corporate marketing ploy," the reality is that it really does not matter what Disney/Pixar's intentions were. They had the opportunity to comfort a dying girl and ease the suffering of her family, and they did just that.
Michael, you hit the nail on the head - in my opinion they did what needed to be done based on human compassion, and for me that spoke volumes! Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts for all to ponder.
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