LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION SELECTED AS DRAGON CON’S 2015 OFFICIAL CHARITY

New Slate of Superheroes Community Service Projects Lets Dragon Con Fans Lend a Hand

ATLANTA – January 12, 2015 – Dragon Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy and sci-fi convention, has selected the Lymphoma Research Foundation – Georgia Market as its official charity for 2015.  Dragon Con will match dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, any money raised for this charity at the 2015 convention.

Dragon Con also announced its slate of Superheroes community service projects for Dragon Con members and fans in the Atlanta area.  This program is now in its second year.

In 2014, the convention raised over $115,000 for its official charity, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and collected 535 pounds of food.  Through the Superheroes program, Dragon Con fans contributed more than 900 hours of community service.

“Selecting the Lymphoma Research Foundation as our official charity this year was a very personal choice,” said Rachel Reeves, convention co-chair.  “We are grateful that organizations such as this are working hard to improve treatments and cures for this devastating disease.”

Two long-time members of the Dragon Con family – Eugie Foster, Director of the Daily Dragon, and Mark Brown, Co-Director of Convention Operations – recently died from lymphoma, while a third member is currently battling it.

Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers, most notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which accounts for about 90 percent of cases.  Other types include Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and immunoproliferative diseases.  Over half a million people are currently living with lymphoma in the United States – the most common blood cancer in adults and the third most common cancer over all among children.

Three Superhero projects are currently planned for the spring and summer of 2015. In addition to having a great time, people who participate in any of these service projects will be invited to an exclusive celebration during this year’s convention and will receive a Superheroes t-shirt.

“We had a great time last year, getting together as fans and volunteers, to do something good and make a difference in our community,” Reeves said.  “Donations are always important, but there are plenty of organizations that also need volunteers to carry out their mission.”

The first Superheroes project will see a return to the Atlanta Community Food Bank partnership, with a half-day of work in an ACFB supported community garden on March 21st.

Community gardens act as a powerful tool for social change by providing neighborhoods with fresh vegetables, attractive landscapes, and place to meet and work towards positive goals. Volunteers help with weeding, seeding, planting, tilling, cleaning, clearing, and any other activity that can possibly take place in a garden.

For the second project, Dragon Con will field a team of volunteers to raise money and participate in the annual Lymphoma Walk, supporting the Lymphoma Research Foundation, on April 11th at Wesleyan School in Norcross. In addition to the walk team, the Superheroes will have other opportunities to volunteer at the walk – possibilities include registration, t-shirt table, set up/clean up, and route cheerleaders.

A third project is in the works, and details will be announced when they are confirmed.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta (Sept. 4 – 7, 2015). Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than about 3,000 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music and gaming over four days.  For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the Lymphoma Research Foundation, please visit www.lymphoma.org.

For more information on Atlanta Community Food Bank, please visit www.acfb.org.