Chewbacca Mom Has Received $420,000 In Gifts
By Elaine Tveit
Chewbacca Mom has received around $420,000 from Disney, Kohl’s, and others since her video went viral last month.
Chewbacca Mom, AKA Candace Payne, has learned geeking out over a Star Wars toy literally pays off. According to Money, Candace has received around $420,000 in gifts, not to mention all of her guest appearances on shows like The Late Late Show With James Corden and her private tour of the Lucasfilm headquarters.
Money provided a breakdown of approximately how much Candace received and from whom. Some of the results are surprising, like the full college scholarships promised to her and all the members of her family (husband and two kids) by Southeastern University.
The president of Southeastern University was quoted as saying the following when providing a reason for the school’s generous gift:
"“Candace has inspired us and others with her joy, and we want her and her family to experience some of that same joy through this gift.”"
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Chewbacca Mom also received $3000 worth of Star Wars merchandise from Kohl’s, where she bought her now famous Chewbacca mask; a Walt Disney World vacation for her and her family worth $7500; and $7500 in travel and set visit expenses. Combined with the estimated amount of tuition expenses for Candace and each member of her family to attend Southeastern University for eight semesters, Candace has been gifted almost half a million dollars.
The total is mind-boggling. And it was all for being genuinely giddy about a child’s talking mask (well, and for having an especially infectious laugh). It’s amazing how people’s hearts open to those who are truly kind and joyful. With all the issues, political, social, and moral going on in today’s world, it’s comforting to be able to turn to the Star Wars fandom for a bit of honest good cheer and stories of human goodness.
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We wish Candace the best, and hope her life is always filled with joy.