Fan Mail
by krkconsult on Sun May 13, 2012 9:23 am
The 501st Legion frequently receives letters of thanks from adoring fans or grateful parents of sick children, but every so often we are granted a peek inside the wonderful imagination of a young fan through a simple drawing that takes many of us back to the days of our childhood when nothing mattered but Star Wars. Thanks to Ryan D. in New Hampshire for being an awesome fan.
Jacob French (TK-6283) Completes 3,000 Mile 'Trooper Trek'!
by TK-2257 on Sat Apr 14, 2012 12:51 pm
Jacob French, TK-6283 of the Terror Australis Garrison, has completed his 3,000 mile trek across Australia! He made the entire journey wearing his stormtrooper armor and was armed only with a buggy to carry his supplies. During his 'Trooper Trek', Jacob raised more than 60,000 GBP ($98,000 USD) for the Starlight Children's Foundation - an organization that helps sick children in hospitals across Australia. Upon concluding his walk, Jacob stopped in at the Sydney Children's Hospital to share his story with the young patients. Congratulations Jacob! More of his story can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/84vwane
DK Publishing Donates $95,000 in Books on Behalf of 501st
by TK-2257 on Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:39 pm
New York, NY, April 10, 2012: DK Publishing announced today a $95,000 children’s book donation on behalf of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, two all-volunteer organizations of Star Wars™ costume enthusiasts who raise money for children’s charities all over the world. The donation, a record-breaking amount for DK, was made to The Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., who dispersed over 7,000 new, full-color reference books to The Pajama Program for distribution to children across the country.
2012 marks the fourth consecutive year DK and the Legions have partnered in spreading a love of reading and Star Wars™. “The 501st and Rebel Legions have attended hundreds of book events for us, from small gatherings at independent bookstores and public libraries to large conferences and tours such as Book Expo America and the forthcoming Attack of the Authors West Coast tour, kicking off in mid-April,” said DK Publicity Manager Mindy Fichter. “I’ve grown to love the Star Wars™ universe throughout my tenure at DK and am so pleased we are part of the Legions’ important mission.”
For more information about DK’s Star Wars™ events program, please visit:
http://us.dk.com/static/cs/us/11/starwars/events.html
Blahozelania to Outpost Slovakia!
by Fleetfang on Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:46 pm
Please join the 501st Legion in congratulating the newest Outpost of the Legion: "Outpost Slovakia!" Its formation was approved by the Legion Council in a unanimous vote. We wish them all the best during their probation period, and years of successful trooping to come. Or, in other words, Blahozelania a Veľa šťastia!
Visit Outpost Slovakia at http://www.501st.sk/
Longfin Rises from Redback!
by Fleetfang on Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:20 pm
Congratulations to the members of the 501st Legion's newest unit, Longfin Squad!
Longfin Squad is the first Squad for the Redback Garrison, and encompasses the Gold Coast and environs region of Australia. Go swimming with sharks yourself by being amongst the first to Like them on Facebook! Duty! Honor! Empire!
Artists Worldwide Rally to Help Sick Child, Princess Leah
by Fleetfang on Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:24 am
Leah Esquenazi, one-year-old daughter of long time Star Wars fans Zev and Francesca Esquenazi, is suffering from a mitochondrial disease that gives her seizures, fevers, infections, and worse. There are few treatments for her and no known cures. She lives off a feeding tube, requires a vent to breathe, and is undergoing physical therapy. Yet through it all, Princess Leah keeps fighting and smiling, and winning hearts around the world.
In an effort to offset her family's skyrocketing expenses, an initiative called “Art for Leah” has begun. Artists from around the globe have donated prints, paintings, sketch cards, autographs, crafts and more toward an online auction, set to begin on eBay on March 25, 2012.
Please bid on these unique items of Star Wars memorabilia. All proceeds of the auctions go to the family to cover costs, and to help fund the fight to find a cure for this little Princess.
The ebay auctions will be taking place here.
Find out more about the Art For Leah cause here.
And read the blog written by her parents here.
Thank you, and may the Force be with you all.
Two Kevins and a Lightsaber
by tuskentrooper on Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:51 pm
Honorary Member Kevin Smith, filmmaker of Clerks fame, recently struck a deal with the AMC television network to produce a new weekly reality show called Comic Book Men. The program centers around the fanboy culture of Smith's own New Jersey-based comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. During the show, viewers can always look forward to a good Star Wars reference or two. In fact, Episode 2 of the new series featured a lightsaber appraisal by 501st Honorary Member & Star Wars artist Kevin Liell, who will be returning in future episodes. Check out Comic Book Men right after The Walking Dead on Sunday nights.
2011 Charity Totals Updated to $11.8 Million US
by tuskentrooper on Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:56 am
At the beginning of 2012, the 501st Legion reported an estimated total of $5.8 million US dollars in funds raised for charity for the previous year. Because figures were still trickling in from various 501st units around the world, the amount actually fell short of the adjusted number. The overall total for 2011 is now an impressive $11.8 million US dollars---more than double the original estimate. Thank you to the partners around the world who are affording the Legion these opportunities to give back to the community, and thank you to the members who are selflessly volunteering their time to help others. The bar is set high for 2012!
12th Annual Crystal Ball raises over $230,000 for charity.
by Dewka on Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:28 am
On Saturday January 21st over fifty costumed members of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion helped the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi raise over $230,000 dollars for the Foundation's operating costs, with over $217,000 given away to deserving organizations with representatives on hand at the ball. Over 800 guests in formal attire were dazzled at the twelfth-annual fundraiser event, but their response upon arrival was nothing short of stunned amazement. The costumed characters from six States mingled with guests for several hours before a grand re-entrance signaling the end of the silent auction. Overhead two laser-equipped X-Wing fighters were persued by two laser-equipped TIE fighters with a massive Death Star suspended from the ceiling. A long double-sided false wall depicting a long spaceship interior met the visitors as they stepped from the ordinary world into the night's fantasy world, complete with props and populated by the inhabitants of the Star Wars universe.
To see what the event was like for the hundreds of attendees, here are some links you might enjoy:
Opening Crawl
Honoree Crawl
Character entrance
501st Twitter Nominated for a Shorty Award
by tuskentrooper on Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:55 pm
The Shorty Awards honor the best producers of short content on social media channels, and the 501st Legion's very own official Twitter account was nominated for recognition in the "Charity" category. Do you follow the 501st on Twitter? If so, please support the Legion and help bring awareness to our charitable efforts by tweet-voting at the following link: http://shortyawards.com/501stLegion. Voting is open through February 17, 2012.