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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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