Mark Ruffalo is spreading some holiday cheer in the days leading up to Christmas. On Wednesday, December 19, the Spotlight actor tweeted a photo of a $100 Starbucks gift card he’d purchased and told his followers to treat themselves to a cup of coffee.
“I was so inspired by your generous spirit during the #PayItForwardChallenge last year that I want to do it again this holiday season!” he tweeted. “Enjoy a drink on me this morning. I encourage you to add on to this gift card or start your own.”
The card itself, which can be activated by showing the barcode at any Starbucks store, contained another sweet message from the 51-year-old Avengers star. “Enjoy a cup on me! Lots of love, Mark” he wrote, adding #PayitForwardChallenge.
At Ruffalo’s urging, many of his followers either added money to his initial card or tweeted separate ones they’d purchased on their own, which can be used by others in exactly the same way by their followers.
“@MarkRuffalo inspired me to #payitforward so enjoy a cup of coffee on me fellow followers. Add to the card if ya want,” wrote one Twitter user. Added another, who also partook in the gift card extravaganza: “I’ve added more to Starbucks AND now Dunkin’ is included!!”
Another one of Ruffalo’s followers who took note of the kind gesture was Zendaya Coleman, who followed suit and tweeted a $100 Starbucks gift card she purchased, allowing her followers to get in on the fun, too.
Ruffalo repeated the gesture on Wednesday, and again on Thursday, December 20 – tweeting one gift card in the morning and another in the late afternoon. He also challenged former costars and friends Danai Gurira, The Rock, Ava DuVernay, Josh Gad and Taika Waititi to spread some holiday cheer as well.
Gad, 37, responded by making a series of charitable donations to various organizations, and in turn called on other famous faces, including Chrissy Teigen and Chris Pratt, to do the same. Props to Hollywood for paying it forward this holiday season!
