EA Cares : The "Empire Gives Back" Make-A-Wish Foundation Event 5/28/10
This event was simply incredible!
Allow me to give you all a bit of a back-story....
The Empire Strikes Back is easily most everyone's favorite film in the entire saga, here moreso for obvious reasons! But for me, the saga itself holds a special place in my heart, and ESB in particular. You see, my father and I always went to see these movies the day they hit. Always. And the day he took me to see ESB is one that I seem to particularly remember the clearest. Before and after seeing it the first time, my father spoiled me with tons and tons of ESB toys, posters, books, whatever, and they all had Fett on them in some way. My father was my best friend, and his passing in 2006 is something I am still dealing with - so this event clearly meant ALOT to me. So fast-forward to 2010, and the 30th anniversary of ESB. I ask one of my fellow Garrison members if he thought we could set up a big event to celebrate ESB in some big, special way. Well, long story short, he works at EAGames in Vancouver, and he set up a screening event of ESB with a silent auction, food, music, and guests for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 5 families with their terminally ill children were there, we had 3 troopers from Garrison Titan come up, Terry (TK), our squad leader as an officer, and I got to be Fett......plus my son joined us in his custom mando we painted up together.
Needless to say, this event went off just insanely well. Pictures, socializing, making the dreams of some very amazing children come true, to watch ESB with the stars of the movie!!
There was food and refreshments provided by EA in their green room. Everyone walked past a long lit hallway that led to the theater for the Empire screening. The hallway itself served as the backdrop for the photos, which was professionally lit by EA's camera club photographers. The hallway looked a lot like the cloud city interiors, complete with giant white girders!
We got suited up and mingled with some of the early arrivers and especially the Make-A-Wish families. It was great to see that many of the kids of employees and Make a Wish kids themselves came dressed for the event. We saw a lot of clones, a Vader, even a mini Han Solo!
Along with the photos by donation, there was a silent auction (signed NHL jerseys, Wii game consoles, EA games, TK helmet, lightsaber, etc.) and tickets sold for the movie screening and reception. All proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish foundation BC Yukon. The food had a Star Wars theme along with Star Wars music playing in the lounge, all catered by EAGames.
We posed for pictures in the hallway for an hour and half before the screening. After the reception was done, we marched into the theater for the beginning of the movie. Everyone cheered as we made our way to the front and we lined up for a few announcements before we changed for the movie.
We raised over $1,500 in donations for Make a Wish BC Yukon!
We had some AMAZING pictures taken, so I wanted to share them with you guys. The close-up shot of me with the red light reflecting is my personal favorite and looks just CRAZY good!!
All due to my TDH family helping me obtain what everyone tells me is the most incredible Fett.
Jason Bianco
BH-8957
Deputy Web Liaison
Badlands Garrison, 501st Legion
This event was simply incredible!
Allow me to give you all a bit of a back-story....
The Empire Strikes Back is easily most everyone's favorite film in the entire saga, here moreso for obvious reasons! But for me, the saga itself holds a special place in my heart, and ESB in particular. You see, my father and I always went to see these movies the day they hit. Always. And the day he took me to see ESB is one that I seem to particularly remember the clearest. Before and after seeing it the first time, my father spoiled me with tons and tons of ESB toys, posters, books, whatever, and they all had Fett on them in some way. My father was my best friend, and his passing in 2006 is something I am still dealing with - so this event clearly meant ALOT to me. So fast-forward to 2010, and the 30th anniversary of ESB. I ask one of my fellow Garrison members if he thought we could set up a big event to celebrate ESB in some big, special way. Well, long story short, he works at EAGames in Vancouver, and he set up a screening event of ESB with a silent auction, food, music, and guests for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 5 families with their terminally ill children were there, we had 3 troopers from Garrison Titan come up, Terry (TK), our squad leader as an officer, and I got to be Fett......plus my son joined us in his custom mando we painted up together.
Needless to say, this event went off just insanely well. Pictures, socializing, making the dreams of some very amazing children come true, to watch ESB with the stars of the movie!!
There was food and refreshments provided by EA in their green room. Everyone walked past a long lit hallway that led to the theater for the Empire screening. The hallway itself served as the backdrop for the photos, which was professionally lit by EA's camera club photographers. The hallway looked a lot like the cloud city interiors, complete with giant white girders!
We got suited up and mingled with some of the early arrivers and especially the Make-A-Wish families. It was great to see that many of the kids of employees and Make a Wish kids themselves came dressed for the event. We saw a lot of clones, a Vader, even a mini Han Solo!
Along with the photos by donation, there was a silent auction (signed NHL jerseys, Wii game consoles, EA games, TK helmet, lightsaber, etc.) and tickets sold for the movie screening and reception. All proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish foundation BC Yukon. The food had a Star Wars theme along with Star Wars music playing in the lounge, all catered by EAGames.
We posed for pictures in the hallway for an hour and half before the screening. After the reception was done, we marched into the theater for the beginning of the movie. Everyone cheered as we made our way to the front and we lined up for a few announcements before we changed for the movie.
We raised over $1,500 in donations for Make a Wish BC Yukon!
We had some AMAZING pictures taken, so I wanted to share them with you guys. The close-up shot of me with the red light reflecting is my personal favorite and looks just CRAZY good!!
All due to my TDH family helping me obtain what everyone tells me is the most incredible Fett.
Jason Bianco
BH-8957
Deputy Web Liaison
Badlands Garrison, 501st Legion
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