When Fanboy Comics is not providing you with the latest in geek news and entertainment, the FBC staff hopes to offer our readers a myriad of opportunities to give back to the community. We love reading comics, watching movies, and playing video games, but we are never happier than when we are able to help others in need. With Geeks Care: How You Can Help, FBC will provide you a variety of causes that would greatly appreciate your time.
In this week’s edition of Geeks Care: How You Can Help, there are so many great opportunities for giving back in the geek community that I will be highlighting TWO great organizations. Earlier this week, Toys for Tots and J.C. Lee (daughter of famed Stan Lee) joined forces to launch the “It’s All About Love” online campaign to raise monetary contributions for Toys for Tots’ annual toy drive. In addition, the Southern California-based after-school group, Geek Girls Society, which serves to empower and encourage young women through geeky endeavors, is hoping to expand its borders and launch new chapters in cities across the country (at no charge to girls interested in participating); however, in order to do so, they must first raise the necessary funds to qualify for non-profit status. Fanboy Comics wants to support these incredible organizations in pursuing their worthy endeavors, and we hope to show you the myriad of ways that you can help.
Our first focus of the week will be Toys for Tots, which is the official charity for the United States Marine Corps and Marine Reserve. The mission of this long-standing organization is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season. By providing less fortunate children with a shiny, new toy, Toys for Tots delivers a message of hope that will help them become responsible, productive, and caring citizens. Since its founding in 1947, the program has collected over 494 million toys, fulfilling the holiday dreams of over 230 million children. It has been supported by numerous celebrities, including First Lady Michelle Obama, and national corporate partners/sponsors include Hasbro, Toys “R” Us, Babies R Us, Build-A-Bear, The UPS Store, The Disney Company, and Macy’s.
As a thank you gift for those individuals donating $10.00 to Toys for Tots this year, J.C. Lee will provide a digital version of her book, It’s All About Love – The Lee Family, which is a family photo album featuring never-before-seen personal photographs. Readers interested in donating to Toys for Tots’ online campaign may do so through the official website.
For our second focus this week, I want to highlight the Geek Girls Society. The organization was launched earlier this year by Portlyn Polston and AutumnRain Glading who own and operate Brave New World Comics, an Eisner Award-winning comic book store in Newhall, CA. Eager to provide girls age 8-16 with a place to embrace their geekiness, learn respect for themselves and others, and maneuver the murky waters of growing up online, Polston and Glading founded the Geek Girls Society, which now boasts record enrollment, educating girls through group projects, field trips, panel discussions with industry professionals, and more.
With the goal of bringing the Geek Girls Society to cities across the US at little to no cost for the girls involved, Polston and Glading must first establish their non-profit status. In order to do so, the founders have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the necessary funds to pay the legal fees involved in starting a new, member-based non-profit. Any funds collected above the legal costs will be used to purchase materials, supplies, books, and badges, or to fund field trips. A wish list will also be available for those who would like to sponsor a membership for girls who cannot afford the $30 a month and one-time $35 registration fee that is currently charged to cover the costs for their custom badges, ties, snacks, and craft materials. Be sure to visit the fundraising page or the official Geek Girls Society website for more information on how you can get involved.
I hope that you’ll join me in lending a hand to these wonderful organizations!
If you have a volunteer opportunity or an important cause that could use the assistance of a few geeks, please email the details to barbra (at) fanboycomics.net.
